Rory McIlroy (35) is sharpening his focus for a “pivotal” 2025 campaign amid continuing uncertainty over “what the landscape of golf looks like going forward.”
McIlroy, preparing to make his 2025 US PGA Tour debut at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, said he expects to pare back his schedule by some five events, with the Open Championship in Portrush and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York looming large as he considers the season.
“I think every year’s a pivotal year,” the Northern Ireland star said. “I think there’s a couple of things this year that make it maybe a little more so for me.
“The Open goes back to Portrush, so playing a major championship pretty much at home is a big thing.
“Then playing an away Ryder Cup for me, I’ve alluded to this a lot, but I feel like winning an away Ryder Cup is one of the toughest things to do in golf at the minute. Obviously, the Europeans have an opportunity to do that, which would be really cool.”
McIlroy’s 2024 included a runner-up finish to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open, but it’s been 10 years since he captured a major.
The Masters at Augusta National in April will offer him another chance to compete his career Grand Slam, while the PGA Championship will be played at Quail Hollow – where he has won the Wells Fargo Championship four times.
As he considers the best way to prepare for golf’s top events, McIlroy said he would play the minimum 15 US tour events needed to maintain his playing status, along with a select number of DP World Tour events.
“I played 27 events last year,” he said. “I think to fulfil both minimums I need to play around 22 so that’s what I’ll do … That’s an extra 35 days at home, and that’s something that I want to do.”
McIlroy acknowledged that he’s making his plans in a climate of continuing uncertainty. -AFP
