WASHINGTON: Jack Nicklaus said Tuesday that he was surprised Masters winner Rory McIlroy did not tell him in advance that he was not playing in this week鈥檚 Nicklaus-hosted PGA Memorial tournament.

Nicklaus, an 18-time major winner, predicted McIlroy鈥檚 triumph last month at Augusta National after hitting his own ceremonial opening tee shot.

Nicklaus said he has not heard from McIlroy since the Northern Ireland star captured his fifth major title and first Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.

McIlroy will miss the Memorial for the first time since 2017, instead playing next week鈥檚 Canadian Open as his tuneup for the following week鈥檚 US Open at Oakmont.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a conversation with him, no,鈥� Nicklaus said, calling that 鈥渁 little bit鈥� of a surprise.

鈥淚t surprised me. But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven鈥檛 talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It鈥檚 just his call,鈥� Nicklaus said.

鈥淚 made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play... sometimes you have to make those calls.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 hold anything against Rory for that. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a US Open. And so that鈥檚 what he鈥檚 doing.

鈥淚 mean, I鈥檓 a big Rory fan, I always have been. I鈥檓 sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.鈥�

Nicklaus said he had no problem about McIlroy not giving him advance warning about his absence.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going to throw Rory under the bus. I like Rory too much,鈥� said Nicklaus. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got to make his own calls on things. Could he have done 鈥榚m differently? Probably. But that鈥檚 all right. I probably could have done some of mine differently too. So I鈥檓 not complaining about Rory.鈥�

Nicklaus said he sent McIlroy a congratulatory letter shortly after the Masters victory last month.

鈥淚 told him I don鈥檛 think anybody has won by having four double bogeys,鈥� Nicklaus said. 鈥淎nd I said, 鈥楤ut that just showed me how much talent you have to overcome that to win and how you played some unbelievably spectacular shots.

鈥淚 was very happy for him. It was a great win.鈥�