Getty
Rory McIlroy is returning to PGA Tour competition this week at the Truist Championship, and he is explaining the reasoning behind his limited schedule this season.
McIlroy has made just five starts on the PGA Tour in 2026, including one withdrawal due to injury. The six-time major champion last competed at The Masters at Augusta National, where he successfully defended his title. As he prepares to tee off at Quail Hollow Club, McIlroy addressed questions about why he and other top players are appearing in fewer events.
Rory McIlroy on why players skipping some weeks produces the best product in the long run:
“That’s what Tiger used to do, he picked & chose what events he wanted to play where he felt like he had the best chance to win…what Scottie & I are doing at the minute is no different.”
Speaking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, McIlroy said the current approach to scheduling is intentional and comparable to how Tiger Woods managed his career.
“We have our minimum events, but we can pick and choose what those events are,” McIlroy said. “I think people are just going to have to expect that this is the way it’s going to be. That’s what Tiger used to do.”
McIlroy added that his approach aligns with fellow top player Scottie Scheffler, who has played more events this season but follows a similar strategy.
“He picked and chose what events he wanted to play, where he felt like he had the best cadence to his schedule and he had the best chance to win,” McIlroy said. “And I think what Scottie and I are doing at the minute is no different.”
McIlroy also emphasized that the broader value of professional golf lies in the PGA Tour itself rather than individual players.
“But the thing is, to me, I think what we’ve realized over the past four or five years, the value in professional golf lies more with the platform rather than any individual player,” he said. “Because we’re all replaceable. We all come and go, we all pass through the system. But the thing that remains is the platform of the PGA Tour, and that’s the valuable thing.”
While acknowledging that fans may want to see top players compete more frequently, McIlroy said that is not always realistic.
“So my argument is it would be great to get everyone playing every single week, but I just don’t think that’s possible,” he said. “But the value is the platform, and if we can put across the best possible product that we can, even if that means sometimes guys missing out on events here and there, I think that’s the best way forward.”
McIlroy said he feels refreshed and ready as he returns to competition after taking time off following his Masters win.
“I’m excited for the road ahead,” McIlroy told PGA.com after his pro-am round at Quail Hollow.
The golfer described his post-Masters break as more relaxed compared to the previous year. He spent most of his time at home in Jupiter, Florida, with his family and avoided a heavy media schedule.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought I needed to get back on the range and start to practice and get ready for this stretch coming up,” McIlroy said.
The stretch ahead starts with the Truist Championship, then moves into the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Quail Hollow is a familiar place for McIlroy—he picked up his first PGA Tour win there and has gone on to win at the course multiple times.
Now sitting at 30 career PGA Tour victories, McIlroy continues to be one of the most reliable players in the game. His approach of choosing when to play appears to be paying off as he gets ready for another run at the season’s biggest events.
Perry Miller Carpenter Perry Carpenter is a writer and editor with 20 years of experience covering entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. She is also a standout contributor at Heavy.com’s sister site Entertainment Now. More about Perry Miller Carpenter
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。
