Rory McIlroy may skip an event for which he was fined $3 million last year as he plans to drastically reduce his 2025 schedule.
The World No. 3 said he will only participate in the events he enjoys playing in next year after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Thursday.
After playing on the PGA Tour since 2007, the Northern Irishman feels compelled to cut back on his play in order to avoid the “hard slog” of competing in up to 30 events.
McIlroy’s 27th competitive appearance of the year will take place in Dubai next week at the DP World Tour Championship.
He told the Daily Telegraph, “I played in a couple tournaments this year that I don’t usually play and that I might not play next year.”
For example, I participated in the [RBC Heritage in] Hilton Head, the [Texas Open in] San Antonio, and the Cognizant [Classic] in Palm Beach Gardens.
And it’s likely that I won’t participate in Memphis’s first playoff event. I mean, I only dropped one spot in the playoff rankings and was essentially dead last there this year.
“Well, given where I am in my career… Since I’ve been here for 17 and 18 years and I’m 35, I’m just going to go to the places that I like and where I perform well.
“Look, I’ve put in a lot of work; I do about 25 to 30 events annually. I’m not getting any younger, either.
McIlroy was fined for his late withdrawal from the RBC Heritage eighteen months ago.
The competition is held the week after the Masters, and in 2023, the devastated star returned home for his mental and emotional health after missing a cut at the major.
Top players were permitted to miss one “Signature Event” per PGA Tour regulations that year, but McIlroy’s absence was his second of the year.
He was fined $3 million as a result of having to forfeit 25% of his PIP (Player Impact Program) bonus, which was approximately $12 million.
He acknowledged at the time that he “knew the consequences” of missing the Heritage, calling it a “simple decision.”
McIlroy mentioned a discussion he had with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, saying, “I had my reasons to not play Hilton Head and I’ve expressed those to Jay.”
“It was a simple choice, but I thought it was worth it to me to get some things in place if that fine or whatever happens.”
Since the tournament is no longer required, he is free to skip it if he so chooses.
McIlroy spent three weeks cooped up in his Florida home studio trying to hone his swing before his appearance in Abu Dhabi.
Since his victory at the 2014 PGA Championship, he has failed to win any of the four majors, and being in the studio has given him the opportunity to concentrate solely on his body movements without being distracted by the flight of the ball.
He clarified, “It’s just something to make my golf swing more efficient, and if it’s more efficient, it’s going to break down less under pressure.”
McIlroy may be able to break his ten-year wait for another major with some swing adjustments and a more relaxed schedule in 2025.
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