Rory McIlroy to Reduce Golf Schedule in 2025 After Reaching Limit

On September 3, golfer Rory McIlroy shared that he plans to reduce the number of tournaments he participates in after feeling exhausted from a demanding season. Speaking to reporters following the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, McIlroy expressed his thoughts on this year’s challenges.

McIlroy, who currently ranks No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, finished tied for ninth at the Tour Championship, a tournament that ultimately went to top-ranked Scottie Scheffler.

This season, the 35-year-old athlete has participated in 22 events, with five still on his calendar. “I felt like the tournaments came thick and fast,” he explained. The inclusion of the Olympics this year made the schedule feel even more compact.

Traditionally, McIlroy has enjoyed a schedule of around 22 tournaments. However, he now intends to scale back to participating in between 18 to 20 events annually.

“It has been a long season,” McIlroy remarked. “I’ll need to incorporate a few extra breaks in the coming year because I felt like I hit a bit of a wall after the U.S. Open, and I still feel the remnants of that.” McIlroy’s performance this season remains impressive, winning the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship and earning second place at the 2024 U.S. Open. He placed third at the Valero Texas Open, tied for 22nd at the Masters Tournament, tied for 12th at the PGA Championship, and unfortunately missed the cut at the British Open.

Despite these successes, McIlroy has not captured a major title since 2014 and was close to adding to his collection at the U.S. Open this year. Unfortunately, he succumbed to pressure down the stretch, recording three bogeys in the final four holes, which ultimately cost him the title. Bryson DeChambeau edged him out, winning by just one stroke after McIlroy left several short putts unmade.

McIlroy closed out the Tour Championship on a high note, shooting a 5-under 66 in his final round, which earned him a payout of $1.6 million. The winner, Scheffler, took home an impressive $25 million.

Looking ahead, McIlroy is set to compete in the Amgen Irish Open from September 12 to 15 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, as he continues his pursuit for a major title, aiming to secure his first win since 2014.