The European Tour's biggest event will be without its biggest name next week in England.
Rory McIlroy was forced to withdraw from the BMW Championship on Friday due to a rib injury he suffered last week at THE PLAYERS Championship.
"Having had a reaction to my earlier rib injury, I have been advised to take a conservative approach to my recovery, which unfortunately means I have to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship next week," said McIlroy in a statement. "It's a disappointing decision to have to make, but I have to ensure I make a full recovery. I will now continue the process of preparing my game for the US Open and the rest of the season."
The Northern Irishman overcame a similar injury earlier in the year, but aggravated the area on Day 1 at TPC Sawgrass, and was never a factor at THE PLAYERS.
"There is no question that Rory will be missed at the BMW PGA Championship but his health is the most important thing and we wish him a speedy recovery," said Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour.
McIlroy won the tournament back in 2014, overcoming a seven-stroke margin in the final round to beat Shane Lowry by one.