Rory McIlroy has sparked controversy by deciding to skip the upcoming Memorial Tournament, which begins this Thursday.

The Northern Irishman, who recently won the Masters, will miss the prestigious event hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus for the first time since 2017.

The decision has come as a shock to many golf fans, particularly as the tournament is one of the PGA Tour's signature events and has been hosted by Nicklaus since its founding in 1976.

Fans have reacted angrily to McIlroy's decision on social media, with many expressing their disappointment.

Rory McIlroy has come under fire after deciding against playing the upcoming Memorial Tournament

"Disgusting. Jack's tournament is a prestigious tournament," wrote one fan on X.

Another added: "Poor decision. Jack has been good to Rory."

Some questioned whether there would be consequences, with one asking: "So he's going to miss three signature events? Wasn't there supposed to be a punishment for this?"

A fourth fan suggested: "One thing I am suspecting is he hasn't practiced or played much since the Masters."

McIlroy will, however, avoid a financial penalty for missing the Memorial Tournament due to recent changes in PGA Tour rules.

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Previously, the five-time major champion would have faced a substantial fine for skipping signature events, as evidenced by the £2.2 million penalty he received in 2023 for missing The Sentry and the RBC Heritage.

The PGA Tour has since scrapped this regulation, allowing players to miss signature events without financial consequences.

This will be the third signature event McIlroy has missed this season.

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Rory McIlroy finished the PGA Championship tied for 47thGetty

McIlroy's form has noticeably dipped since his triumph at Augusta, where he finally captured the elusive Green Jacket.

He struggled at the PGA Championship earlier this month, barely making the cut and finishing tied for 47th place at three-over par.

The 36-year-old also appeared to be avoiding media attention during that tournament.

Instead of using the Memorial as preparation for the upcoming US Open at Oakmont, McIlroy has committed to play in the RBC Canadian Open next week.

Rory McIlroy has been in tricky form since winning The Masters

What makes McIlroy's decision particularly notable is that he had sought advice from Nicklaus before his Masters victory.

Nicklaus revealed at Augusta that the pair had lunch together prior to the tournament, where McIlroy asked for guidance on how to succeed at the course.

This meeting preceded McIlroy's dramatic win over Justin Rose in a play-off to finally claim the Green Jacket.