After a year of playing significantly more golf than in the past, Rory McIlroy says he intends to significantly reduce his schedule in 2025.
Talk to James Corrigan telegraph paperMcIlroy said he hopes to compete in 18 or 19 tournaments in 2025. Next week's DP World Tour Championship will almost certainly see McIlroy earn his sixth Distinguished Service Medal and mark his 27th tournament on either the DP World Tour or the DP World Tour. This season's PGA Tour.
“There are some tournaments that I played this year, but I don't usually play, so I might not play next year,” McIlroy said. Telegraph paper.
“I played Cognizant [Classic] Located in Palm Beach Gardens, [the Valero Texas Open in] San Antonio and [RBC Heritage in] Hilton Head. And he probably won't play in the first playoff event in Memphis. That meant they finished almost last place this year, dropping just one place in the playoff standings. ”
McIlroy started the 2024 season in the Middle East, losing to Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational. He then bounced back with a win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, a tournament he will return to in January 2025.
After his victory in Dubai, McIlroy began his PGA Tour schedule at Pebble Beach, playing five more events before the Masters. As part of his preparation for Augusta National, McIlroy wanted to play more, not less. Unfortunately for the Northern Irishman, however, that didn't lead to the Green Jacket championship he has chased throughout his career. A win at Augusta would give McIlroy a career Grand Slam.
Despite this, he won't play much on the PGA Tour next season, hoping to arrive at the four majors refreshed and ready. Perhaps he will make his PGA Tour season debut again at Pebble Beach and then play at the Genesis Invitational in Riveria. His next event will likely be at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, not the Cognizant Classic. McIlroy will then play The Players, likely his last event before the Masters in April.
We don't know what will happen after April, but it looks like he won't be participating in the FedEx St. Jude Championship either. However, these developments are not all that surprising. As a member of the Trades Committee, McIlroy is working to help negotiate specific agreements with the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). He also had a whirlwind 2024 season, including a heartbreak at the U.S. Open and unfortunate off-course events in his family life. Competing in 27 tournaments is obviously taxing as well, so be prepared to see less of McIlroy in 2025, not less.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
