Rory McIlroy is looking to scale back his competitive golf schedule as he wraps up the 2024 season. After a hectic year that included 22 tournaments, McIlroy expressed a need for more breaks to maintain his performance and manage his responsibilities.
In a recent interview following his top-10 finish at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, McIlroy shared his thoughts on the demanding nature of his current schedule. “It’s been a long season,” he said. “I hit a bit of a wall post-U.S. Open and still feel some of that hangover. I need to plan for more breaks next year.”
Despite the PGA Tour season concluding, McIlroy still has five tournaments left, including the Irish Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He currently leads the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings, which will end with two playoff events in November.
Reflecting on his demanding schedule, McIlroy admits that playing in 27 tournaments in one year is too much. “I’m typically a 22-tournament guy,” he noted. “But that was before I had the responsibilities I do now. Moving forward, I think I’ll aim for 18 to 20 tournaments a year.”
McIlroy’s recent schedule included six events in the past eight weeks, such as the Olympics in Paris and the British Open. With a busy roster that also featured all three FedEx Cup Playoffs events, McIlroy feels the need to refine his approach.
His season highlights include wins at the Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship, along with a second-place finish at the U.S. Open. While he missed only one cut in 19 starts, McIlroy acknowledges the importance of balance as he looks towards the future.
Looking ahead, the PGA Tour will return in January with The Sentry in Hawaii, a Signature Event that McIlroy skipped this year. Instead, he plans to make his 2025 season debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
For golf enthusiasts and sports fans following McIlroy’s career, it’s clear that the pursuit of excellence involves not just skill, but also smart scheduling and self-care.
