After a forgettable performance at the Masters that saw him miss the cut, PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy has decided to withdraw from next weekend’s RBC Heritage. That marks his second skipped designated event this season. PGA rules hold that players can miss one designated event but that missing any additional ones requires an excuse, otherwise the player risks forfeiting part of their payout from the previous year.
Let’s break down how Rory McIlroy’s withdrawal affects the PGA DFS landscape for the RBC Heritage.
Rory McIlroy Withdrawal: PGA DFS Impact on the RBC Heritage
Now that Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the RBC Heritage, PGA DFS players and bettors will notice a bit of a gap at the top of the field. McIlroy opened at 11-1 to win the tournament at DraftKings. Following his withdrawal, the two favorites, Scottie Scheffler (8-1, $11,000) and Jon Rahm (17-2, $11,100) didn’t see their odds move. However, Patrick Cantlay (14-1, $10,300) saw his odds shorten to only 11-1.
The early line movement in Cantlay’s favor makes him stand out in the betting market for this weekend’s RBC Heritage. It’s possible that he drew significant support from sharps that moved his line, and he owns just the fourth-highest salary on the slate, behind the two favorites and defending champion Jordan Spieth (18-1, $10,400). Unlike Cantlay, Spieth has seen his odds lengthen to 20-1.
The absence of McIlroy in DFS contests means a significant chunk of ownership will be available to disperse across the top. Those projections aren’t out yet, but will be updated throughout the week here.
McIlroy’s withdrawal comes on the heels of a disappointing performance at Augusta. McIlroy shot an even 72 on the tournament’s first day after failing to record a single birdie. He then shot a 77 on the second day after recording a whopping seven bogeys. The performance marked his second missed cut of the season after he struggled at THE PLAYERS.
Projections will be released on Tuesday at Stokastic.
