Rory McIlroy Plans to Scale Back Tournament Schedule After Busy 2024 Season

Rory McIlroy has announced plans to reduce his tournament schedule in the future following a packed 2024 season. By year-end, the 35-year-old will have competed in 27 events.

McIlroy, who finished tied for ninth at The Tour Championship with a closing round of 66, reflected on his demanding year. He started strong with a win at the Dubai Desert Classic and later secured victory at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.

However, the year was not without its challenges. McIlroy was the runner-up at the US Open, where a late collapse allowed Bryson DeChambeau to take the title, and he missed the cut at the Open Championship. He also finished joint fifth at the Olympics in Paris, representing Team Ireland.

“It’s been a long season,” McIlroy said. “I need to consider adding more breaks in my schedule. I felt a bit of a wall after the US Open, and I’m still feeling some of that fatigue.”

When asked about the optimal number of tournaments, McIlroy replied, “27 is too many. I typically prefer around 22, but with my current responsibilities, I plan to reduce it to 18 or 20 events annually.”

McIlroy still has several tournaments remaining, including the Irish Open at Royal County Down and the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews in October. “My season isn’t over yet,” he noted. “The tournaments have come quickly this year, and with the added Olympics, everything was more compressed.”