Young gun McIlroy turns his back on US Tour riches
NORTHERN IRISH starlet Rory McIlroy has turned his back on America’s PGA Tour – to avoid golfing burnout.
The 20-year-old has gatecrashed the top 20 in the world rankings, thus earning himself a lucrative membership to the US Tour.
But McIlroy, the Dubai Desert Classic champion, has opted to concentrate on playing most of his golf on the European Tour where the schedule is not so intense.
“I don’t want to play 30 events a year and get burnout,” said McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship at Wentworth, which starts today.
“I had not planned on having a PGA Tour card for two or three years anyhow. It was an easy decision to make in that respect and I’m very happy in Europe. I’ll play the Majors and the World Golf Championships and I think the way my schedule has worked out is perfect.”
McIlroy is looking for an improved showing at Wentworth after missing the cut in the Players’ Championship at Sawgrass a fortnight ago, then finishing well down the field in last weekend’s Irish Open. “Golf’s a very fickle game,” the youngster added. “You can come in and out of form very quickly.”
One player who won’t be joining him on the West Course is last year’s runner-up Justin Rose, who was forced to pull out of yesterday’s pro-am tournament with a back injury.
Champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was also a doubt after treatment on a shoulder injury but the Spaniard will be around to defend his title from a high-class field, which features eight Major winners.