After the British Open, Rory McIlroy admitted something no PGA Tour executive wants to hear.
The Northern Irishman, 37, agreed that the PGA Tour and the FedEx Cup don’t get his juices going as much as they once did.
“I think it just sort of ebbs and flows,” McIlroy said after being asked about his interest in the two. “There’s been years where I’ve given [the PGA Tour] maybe more of my attention and years that I haven’t. Yeah, I guess I’m just at a stage that I have other things that I prioritize.”
Rory said the PGA Tour schedule changes have played a part in his wavering enthusiasm, including the change to the Tour Championship.
The tournament switched in 2025 from a staggered stroke start to a straight 72-hole stroke-play event, diminishing the importance of tournaments leading up to it.
The top 30 players now qualify based on a point system.
“I just need to be in the top 30 going in there to have a chance to win a FedEx Cup,” McIlroy said. “So why would I care about the first two [tournaments]? I sort of came to that decision last year, and I’m just sort of doing the same thing.”
The admission comes after McIlroy struggled to find his game during the British Open, finishing tied for 40th at 1-under.
He said he felt “stuck in neutral for most of the week,” getting a bogey anytime he thought he had a bit of momentum.
Regardless of the weekend’s struggles, McIlroy has placed himself among the best golfers of all time, winning the career grand slam at the 2026 Masters.
The issue, though, is that his success is also part of his dying enthusiasm for the tour. McIlroy has seemingly lost the love for winning the smaller tournaments.
“I’m nearly 20 years into this, and I need to do everything I can to keep my enthusiasm as high as possible, and playing a lighter schedule definitely does that,” McIlroy said after the Scottish Open.
The world No. 2 golfer added that a lighter schedule lets him see his family more, specifically his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.
The Northern Irishman will take another break following the British Open, with the plan to take several weeks off until the Tour Championship in late August.
McIlroy said he hasn’t really had the chance to celebrate his Masters win in April, so will do that during the break.
“Poppy’s got another four weeks off school until she goes back, so I’m just going to enjoy the summer holidays with her and Erica,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
