Rory McIlroy joked with reporters before the Memorial Tournament that he feels like a part timer due to his selective PGA Tour schedule but insists that he will continue to pick and choose where and when he plays even with a potential new look calendar next year.
McIlroy, who has already skipped back to back Signature Events, a concept he had a huge role in creating in response to LIV Golf when on the PGA Tour player board, is in the field for this week’s Jack Nicklaus hosted tournament at Muirfield Village.
The six-time major champion is making his first competitive appearance since last month’s PGA Championship after jetting across the Atlantic having settled his family in their new home in Wentworth. That move is a big indicator that he will continue to play a limited schedule on the PGA Tour next year where there will be Track 1 and Track 2 events depending on player performance.
“I think with the Track 1 events expanded to 120 players, I think I would back myself to finish in that top 100 or whatever it is if I play a limited schedule,” said McIlroy who was in Shinnecock Hills on Monday undertaking a pre-US Open scouting mission akin to what he did at the Masters.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve been on Tour more than half of my life at this point. So I’ll pick and choose my spots like I have been doing sort of the last 18 months to two years.
“Does it mean it makes it harder for myself to win the FedExCup or whatever the season-long title race is going to be called? Absolutely.
“But I’m okay with that because it brings balance to my life and let’s me enjoy things outside of the game.”
Keen to follow in Tiger Woods’ footsteps as far as his playing schedule is concerned he is also eager to add his name alongside the 15-major champion to two trophies that have eluded him so far in his glorious career – the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club and this week where the winner receives a coveted handshake from 18-time major winner Nicklaus.
“I would say here and Tiger’s event at Riviera, they’re the two that I would love to win,” McIlroy said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win at Bay Hill, but not while Arnold was alive.
“So I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack’s hand.
“Jack and I share a nice history. We’ve known each other now for nearly 20 years – or I’ve known him for nearly 20 years.
“He’s been nothing but great to me and my family. So, yeah, this is certainly one I would love to get done.”
McIlroy skipped this event last year but has four successive top-20 finishes including a T7 in 2023 but with driving distance not a key metric at Muirfield Village he has never felt entirely comfortable with Jack negating the opportunity to overpower the golf course in favour of a strategic approach which could be why Scottie Scheffler has won this event in back to back years.
“I pride myself on that being one of my biggest weapons,” he added. The fairways pinch in right around the spots where I would be finishing driver.
“So it’s frustrated me in a way that I feel like my biggest weapon is in some way neutralized here. And then I have to play the golf course like most of the other guys in the field.”
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