Rory McIlroy has taken a break since defending his Masters title (Image: Getty Images)
The golfing world has continued to turn following Rory McIlroy’s dramatic defence of his Masters crown. Having waited so long to complete the Grand Slam, the Northern Irish star now boasts two Green Jackets and six major titles to his name.
His next major target is the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, near Philadelphia, getting underway on May 14. Another strong contender at the second major of the year will be Matt Fitzpatrick, who continued his superb season by beating Scottie Scheffler in a play-off to win the RBC Heritage last weekend. Fitzpatrick returns to action this week, teaming up with his brother, Alex, at the Zurich Classic. Here’s a round-up of the latest golf news…
McIlroy skips another event
McIlroy has extended his post-Masters break by sitting out the Zurich Classic, which gets underway on Thursday. McIlroy, who also skipped the RBC Heritage, won the team event alongside close friend Shane Lowry in 2024 and competed again last year shortly after claiming the Green Jacket for the first time.
However, he will be absent from this year’s tournament in New Orleans, with Lowry instead pairing up with PGA Tour returnee Brooks Koepka. Defending champions Ben Griffin and Adam Novak and the Fitzpatrick brothers will also feature in a field that includes a number of lesser-known emerging talents.
Novak has defended the calibre of the field, saying: “You may not know some of the names in this tournament yet, but you will. There’s some kids playing in this tournament that you better get to learn their names sooner rather than later.”
Shane Lowry has had to find a new partner for the Zurich Classic (Image: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
No regrets for MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre has set out his ambitions for the season following his Masters meltdown. The left-hander was caught on camera aiming a middle-finger gesture at the 15th green after sending his approach shot into a pond on his way to a quadruple-bogey nine.
The Ryder Cup hero was reprimanded by Augusta National officials at the end of his opening-round 80. MacIntyre carded a 71 in round two but, at seven over, missed the cut and then declined to speak to the press before heading home.
The Scot, who recently became a father, has since opened up about his aspirations for the season but has no intention of reining in his fiery nature. MacIntyre is firmly focused on sharpening his iron play and, beyond major glory, is targeting victory at the Scottish Open and a place at the PGA Tour Finals.
However, the 29-year-old has few regrets about his outburst in Augusta. MacIntyre told the BBC: “It’s part of who I am. I try, I probably should limit it or I should try and maybe wait a couple of seconds longer before I do have my outburst. But for me to try to compete at the top level, I need to get my frustration out or else it’s going to affect my performance.”
Robert MacIntyre was told off for his conduct at the Masters (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
PGA Tour event to be dropped
The PGA Tour is set to abandon its Hawaii events for the first time in 63 years. This year’s season opener, The Sentry in Maui, was called off due to drought issues.
No alternative venue could be secured, meaning the season got underway with the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. The Sentry and the Sony Open are traditionally paired together, but the PGA Tour is weighing up a move of the latter to the seniors’ Champions Tour alongside the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
Meanwhile, Sentry Insurance could assume sponsorship of the event at Torrey Pines, near San Diego, which is poised to become the new season opener.