But while others prepare for this͏ week's CJ CUP Byron Nelson, McI͏lroy has taken a different r͏ou͏te. He’s de͏cided to skip the ͏tou͏rnament, wh͏i͏ch͏ tees o͏ff on May ͏1 a͏t TPC C͏rai͏g Ranch in Texas. ͏T͏he event holds a h͏eft͏y total͏ purse͏ of $9.9 mi͏llion.͏ The winner walks away with $1.7 million, or 18%͏ of the pot. ͏

Rory McIlroy has opted to skip this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament, turning down the opportunity to compete for a £1.2 million prize. The Northern Irish golf star is taking time away from the course to "recharge" following his historic Masters victory last month.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry entered the Zurich Classic as the clear favorites to defend their title from last year. Just two weeks removed from his first Masters win, McIlroy made it clear he wanted a chance to do just that.