Rory McIlroy admitted he will miss multiple tournaments, as the golfing star said he will continue to “pick and choose” when he plays.
The six-time major winner has been selective with what tournaments he plays in over the last couple of years since winning his first Masters.
McIlroy said: “I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve been on tour more than half of my life at this point.
“So 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 returns to action this week at the Memorial Tournament after finishing seventh at the US PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman admitted the Memorial is one of two tournaments he is desperate to win, alongside the Tiger Woods-fronted Genesis Invitational.
Rory McIlroy said he will continue to ‘pick and choose’ when he plays
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The two-time Masters winner said: “I would say here and Tiger’s event at Riviera, they’re the two that I would love to win.
“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. So this is certainly one I would love to get done.”
Rory McIlroy returns to action this week at the Memorial Tournament
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With the US Open only a couple of weeks away, the world No2 hopes the green speeds do not “get too out of hand” at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in New York.
The Northern Irishman stopped off at the course ahead of the Memorial, saying he was surprised by the width of the fairways.
He said: “The fairways are very generous. They’re more generous than they were in 2018, but the first cut of rough is five inches long.
“The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2 (anything over 12 is considered fast), something like that and I really don’t think they need to get much faster.
The Northern Irishman stopped off at Shinnecock Hills before heading to the Memorial
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“I think 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.”
The world No2 is only playing in his sixth regular PGA Tour event of the year as he continues to play on his reduced schedule.
