Rory McIlroy has hinted at a lighter schedule for 2025, potentially skipping a tournament that previously cost him a hefty $3million (£2.3m) fine after missing it in 2023.
The world No.3 is prioritising enjoyment as he approaches two decades on the PGA Tour. After being fined for a late withdrawal from last year's RBC Heritage, McIlroy points out that the event is no longer compulsory, leaving room for him to opt-out if he chooses.
At 35 years of age, the Northern Irishman feels the need to reduce his tournament load and steer clear of the "hard slog" of playing up to 30 events annually.
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"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 shared with the Daily Telegraph, reports the Express.
He mentioned possibly skipping the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, the Texas Open in San Antonio, and the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, as well as the first play-off event in Memphis.
Reflecting on his performance, he said: "I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year [tied for 68 in a 70-man field], and only moved down one spot in the play-off standings.
"Well, at this point in my career... 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." Over a year has passed since McIlroy was heavily fined for skipping the RBC Heritage tournament, but he stood by his choice.
"We certainly have our minimums, we obviously signed up for this designated-event series this year," McIlroy commented at the time. "I obviously knew the consequences that could come with missing one of those. It was an easy decision, but I felt like if that fine or whatever is to happen was worth that for me in order to get some things in place."
This week, McIlroy disclosed his current efforts in a studio, working on his swing and focusing on his body movements instead of the ball's trajectory, as he strives to break a ten-year drought without a major championship win.
