Jack Nicklaus has defended Rory McIlroy's decision to skip this week's Memorial Tournament as he continues his preparations for the US Open.

Nicklaus founded the tournament and is once again the host this year, and he insists that he has no problem with the world number one choosing to take a break from action.

McIlroy has been a fixture at the event since his debut in 2010, but he has played five tournaments in succession and missed the cut at the Irish Open last weekend.

"Most of the guys who aren't here this week have come to me and said 'Jack I've got this problem'," Nicklaus told reporters. "I said, 'Hey wait a minute, don't worry about us, you've got to do what's right for you'.

"He came to me and talked to me and said he was in a pickle. I said 'Rory, don't worry about it. You and I are very close, we have no issues. If you have stuff you gotta do in Ireland, you got to do what's right for you. You gotta get yourself ready for the US Open'."

The US Open will be held at Chambers Bay in two weeks.