Rory McIlroy is currently competing in his 26th event of the 2024 season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he opened the tournament with an impressive round of 67. This event is one of the final tournaments of the DP World Tour schedule, but looking ahead to 2025, McIlroy has made it clear that he plans to significantly scale back his schedule.
McIlroy hinted at his intention to reduce his workload earlier this year at the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, but after his opening round in Abu Dhabi, he provided more details. Speaking to the Telegraph, McIlroy confirmed that he plans to cut down his schedule to around 18 or 19 events next year, a sharp reduction compared to the 26 events he has played in 2024.
“There’s a few tournaments that I played this year that I don’t usually play and that I might not play next year,” McIlroy explained. “Like, I played the Cognizant (Classic) in Palm Beach Gardens, San Antonio (Texas Open), and Hilton Head (RBC Heritage). And I’ll probably not play the first playoff event in Memphis (the FedEx St. Jude). I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year—tied for 68th out of 70—and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.”
The decision to reduce his schedule comes as McIlroy, now 35 years old, is prioritizing his health and focusing on events where he feels most comfortable and has the best chance of performing well. McIlroy, who has been on the professional golf circuit for over 17 years, emphasized that he is ready to make a change and play a lighter schedule, having already endured the grind of playing 25 to 30 events per year during his earlier career.
McIlroy’s 2024 season has included several notable achievements. He claimed victories at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, the Zurich Classic (teaming up with Shane Lowry), and the Wells Fargo Championship. He also represented Ireland in the Olympic Games, where he competed against the world’s best golfers.
Additionally, McIlroy came close to winning multiple times throughout the year, including a runner-up finish to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open, as well as second-place finishes at both the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship.
While McIlroy skipping the Cognizant Classic is not particularly surprising, his decision to possibly miss the RBC Heritage in 2025 is noteworthy. The RBC Heritage is one of the PGA Tour’s eight signature events, featuring smaller fields and substantial $20 million purses.
If McIlroy also decides to skip the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions—which he did not play in this year—that would mean missing two of the eight signature events.
In 2023, players who were eligible for the signature events were required to compete in them, with the option to skip just one. That year, McIlroy chose not to participate in the Sentry in Hawaii and also skipped the RBC Heritage, which came immediately after the Masters. This led to McIlroy facing a fine, which was deducted from his Player Impact Program (PIP) bonus.
However, the rules have changed since then, and there is no longer a requirement for players to compete in all signature events. Players are free to choose which tournaments they want to play, though skipping signature events means missing out on significant prize money and increased FedEx Cup points.
McIlroy seems comfortable with his decision, focusing instead on balancing his schedule and maintaining his longevity in the sport.
“Well, at this point in my career…” McIlroy reflected. “Hey, I’m 35 and have been out here for 17, 18 years, so I’m just going to go to the places that I enjoy and where I play well. Look, I’ve done the hard slog, I’ve done that sort of 25 to 30 events a year. And I’m not getting any younger.”
McIlroy’s new approach to his schedule represents a shift in priorities, focusing on quality over quantity as he moves forward in his career.
By reducing the number of events, McIlroy aims to avoid burnout and concentrate on performing at a high level in the tournaments that mean the most to him. This strategy is increasingly common among veteran players who have spent years on tour, striving to extend their careers by managing both their physical and mental well-being.
As McIlroy looks ahead to 2025, fans can expect to see him at his favorite events, where he has historically performed well and enjoyed success.
With his talent and experience, McIlroy remains a formidable contender in any tournament he chooses to enter, and his decision to pare down his schedule will likely allow him to remain competitive for many years to come.
