Rory McIlroy has dealt the European Tour a significant blow on the eve of the Ryder Cup by revealing he will almost certainly not play on his home circuit until July next season.
Ever since he first won his card in 2007, the four-time major winner has kick-started his year in the Middle East on the Tour’s so-called “Desert Swing”, apart from last year when he was injured.
In January, he referred to the Abu Dhabi Championship as “the perfect place to start my campaign” and added that the Dubai Desert Classic holds “a special spot” in his heart, as it was his first win as a professional nine years ago. “It’s a highlight of the year for me,” McIlroy said.
However, it seems that the new riches on offer on the revamped PGA Tour schedule are irresistible to the 29-year-old.
On Tuesday here at the Tour Championship at East Lake, commissioner Jay Monahan announced the FedEx play-offs pot will be doubled to $70 million (£53.5 million) with the winner receiving $15 million, a hike from the $10 million the FedEx Cup winner will collect on Sunday. There will also be the introduction of a $10 million purse for the money list at the end of the regular season.
“I think the changes to the Tour schedule next year are great,” McIlroy said, after revealing he would look to join the PGA Tour’s players advisory committee.
“It’ll encourage guys to play more. I always feel I start the year a little bit behind everyone else because I have to go over to Europe.
“I turn up in LA [at the Genesis Open in February], and guys have already played 10 events. It’ll encourage guys to play a bit more because of the bonus at the end of the regular season, and then obviously you go into the play-offs, and there’s a lot of money to be had.”
When asked by The Sunday Telegraph if he would play in Abu Dubai and Dubai, he replied: “No, probably not.”
In past years, McIlroy normally appeared at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, although he did skip the European Tour’s flagship event in both 2016 and 2017. But that is being moved back to September from next year because of the USPGA Championship which is being brought forward in the calendar.
McIlroy playing at the Tour Championship where the winnings will sky rocket next year Credit: Getty Images
So this means McIlroy would probably not be seen until the Irish Open in July. He is already confirmed for the European Masters in Switzerland in September and it will be intriguing to see if, after what will be the busiest, most condensed summer of his career so far, if he plays at Wenworth. McIlroy would only have to limit his European Tour appearances to the minimum of four to fulfill the memberships requirements and so remain eligible for the Ryder Cup.
The news will come as a big setback to Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s chief executive, who put great store in his Rolex Series – a collection of $7 million-plus events – luring the big names back across the pond.
Pelley can simply not compete with the financial muscle of his American counterpart and he will also be disappointed to hear that Tommy Fleetwood, the order of merit champion, will be cutting back his events on his home tour, as well.
“I’ll start in the Middle East but then come over here and play more full-time, and I won’t play again in Europe until July,” said the 27-year-old Englishman who finished runner-up in this year’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills in June.
The news will not be welcomed by the European Tour’s CEO, Keith Pelley Credit: Getty Images
“When you’re younger and not playing two tours you don’t realise how difficult it is, and it’s so enticing to play over here, where there’s more and more money. If you want to retire early, there’s only one place to play.
“There’s so many more world ranking points as well. The top guys will not reach No 1 playing in Europe. That’s the way it is, unfortunately.
“Guys have their careers and lifetime goals and you can’t hold it against them.”
With those such as world No 1 Justin Rose, John Rahm, Ian Poulter, Paul
Casey and Sergio Garcia all being based in the United States, Pelley must be wondering how many times in the future the European Tour will get to enjoy its Ryder Cup stars.
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