World No. 1 Rory McIlroy unexpectedly got to apologize twice to legendary Jack Nicklaus.

McIlroy had penned his signature to a letter advising the 18-time Major winner he will not be able to contest next month’s Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village outside of Dublin, Ohio.

It will be the first occasion McIlroy will miss the June 4th commencing event since making his debut by finishing 10th in 2010 and a month after his maiden PGA Tour success at today’s starting Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy will tee up at Quail Hollow, Charlotte North Carolina later today (THUR) in the third of five straight events including next week’s BMW PGA at Wentworth and then following week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Royal Country Down.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy gets to apologise in person to Jack Nicklaus in having to miss this year’s Memorial.

The Memorial is scheduled for the week after the Irish Open, from June 4th to 7th, but with McIlroy indicating to Nicklaus he needs time off before heading back to the West Coast and the June 18th commencing US Open.

He said:  “I thought it was the right thing to do, given Jack’s stature in the game, to write to him saying I wasn’t playing the Memorial but then I bumped into him at the Bears Club on Monday.

“The first thing he said to me was that he’d received my letter and I said to him that I wanted to write to you rather than phone or just advise the Tour, so he seemed pretty taken back to get my letter and that made me also feel good.

“I have played the Memorial every year since coming over here so he was happy and I told him I’m already looking forward to the event next year.”

And if you thought McIlroy has had his feet up since finishing eighth last week behind good friend, Rickie Fowler at the Players, then you’re mistaken.

He said:  “I played 18 holes at the Bears Club on Monday and then nine holes Tuesday which was nice but it’s been a nice couple of days to be sleeping in my own bed.

“I find it’s important these days to get back home as often as my schedule will allow and then to be able to fly up here to Charlotte on a Wednesday morning is great because this is the third of five events I will play, and with the next two at Wentworth and then the Irish Open at Royal County Down.

“So this is a long stretch for me and the more time I can spend like out of the whole scene that goes with being on the Tour the better as far as I am concerned.”