Rory McIlroy joked that he feels like a “part-timer these days” as he gets set to play in only his sixth regular PGA Tour event of the year, the world No 2 adding that he will continue to “pick and choose” the events he plays.
The six-time major winner has been more selective with his schedule over the past couple of years and has only played two tournaments since retaining The Masters in April.
After taking some time off following his tied-seventh finish at the PGA Championship last month, McIlroy returns to action at this week’s Memorial Tournament, the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event in Ohio which he opted to skip last year.
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McIlroy had a fan ejected from the PGA Championship after he was heckled on the 16th hole during the final round
“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve been on tour more than half of my life at this point,” McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday. “I’ll pick and choose my spots like I have been doing sort of the last 18 months to two years.
“Does it mean it makes it harder for myself to win the FedEx Cup or whatever the season-long title race is going to be called? Absolutely, but I’m okay with that because it brings balance to my life and lets me enjoy things outside of the game.”
McIlroy added: “I would back myself to finish in that top 100 or whatever it is [to retain my status] if I play a limited schedule.”
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Highlights of McIlroy’s final round from The Masters as the Northern Irishman secured a second-straight Green Jacket at Augusta National
The 37-year-old also admitted that the Memorial is one of two tournaments – along with the Tiger Woods-fronted Genesis Invitational – he is particularly keen to win for the first time before his storied career is out.
“I would say here and Tiger’s event at Riviera, they’re the two that I would love to win,” McIlroy said, whose best finish in his 13 appearances at Muirfield Village was tied-fourth in 2016.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win at Bay Hill, but not while Arnold [Palmer] was alive. So I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack’s hand.
“Also, Jack and I share a nice history. We’ve known each other now for nearly 20 years, or I’ve known him for nearly 20 years. He’s been nothing but great to me and my family. This is certainly one I would love to get done.”
McIlroy hopes US Open green speeds don’t get ‘out of hand’
This week’s Memorial will be McIlroy’s last event before the US Open at Shinnecock Hills from June 18, and the Northern Irishman undertook a scouting mission to the golf course earlier in the week.
McIlroy said he hopes officials do not let the green speeds “get too out of hand” as he feels they are already fast enough.
A number of US Open courses in the past have had putting surfaces so slick that the balls have rolled off them, with Phil Mickelson handed a two-shot penalty the last time Shinnecock hosted in 2018 after jogging after his ball to hit it while it was still moving.
“The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2,” said McIlroy. Anything over 12 is considered fast and last year’s US Open at Oakmont was between 13 and 14. “I really don’t think they need to get much faster.
“If they can keep them at that speed they can get them firm and use the hole locations that they want to use without having some of the struggles that they have had the last couple of US Opens.
“It’s all about them just maintaining the green speeds really where they are and not getting them too out of hand and I think it will be a great week.”
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