PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan came to the defense of Rory McIlroy, whose tournament scheduling plan will leave him out of the Memorial Tournament this week and mark the third signature event he has missed this season.

You look at the beauty of our model is that our players have the ability to select their schedule,” Monahan said.

Over the weekend the golfing world learned that Rory McIlroy wouldn't be participating in one of the premier non-major events on the PGA Tour's calendar. The five-time major winner didn't play in last weekend's Charles Schwab Challenge,