The Northern Irishman, currently sitting second in the FedEx Cup standings, is comfortably positioned to advance directly to next week's BMW Championship, and he remains firmly in contention for the PGA Tour's season-ending prize.
A change in the PGA Tour's playoff format this year has allowed players like McIlroy greater flexibility. The previous system of awarding "starting strokes" based on rankings has been scrapped, meaning players no longer carry a score advantage into the Tour Championship.
McIlroy's record at TPC Southwind in Memphis has been mixed, with his best finish a tie for third in 2023. He struggled at the event last year, finishing second-to-last, which makes his decision to skip this week's tournament a strategic one.
In contrast, East Lake Golf Club, home to the Tour Championship, has been a happy hunting ground for McIlroy, where he has lifted the FedEx Cup trophy in 2016, 2019, and 2022.
Despite not teeing it up in Memphis, McIlroy's spot among the top 30 players advancing to the Tour Championship is virtually guaranteed. He holds an 849-point lead over third-placed Sepp Straka heading into the St. Jude Championship. With 2,000 points awarded to this week's winner, McIlroy cannot fall lower than fourth, regardless of results.
Attention now turns to the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland, where McIlroy is expected to return. The event's $15 million prize purse will attract a star-studded field of the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings.
If McIlroy does play the BMW, it will mark his first appearance since The Open at Royal Portrush, where he finished tied-seventh.
Rory McIlroy may have fallen short of winning the Open Championship in front of his home crowd, but he was full of gratitude and emotion for the unwavering support he received.
Rory McIlroy's eagle on 12 - which he described as one of the "coolest moments" of his career - gives him a chance heading into the final round of The Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy believes he coped well with the pressure of playing The Open on home soil, battling through a wayward day off the tee to remain in contention at Royal Portrush.
South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout is one of five players tied at the top of the Open Championship leaderboard after the opening round at Royal Portrush on Thursday.
