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McIlroy to Scale Back PGA Tour Play, Prioritizing Family and Majors

He says recent changes to FedExCup qualification and the Tour Championship format have made regular events less compelling for top players.

Overview

  • Rory McIlroy confirmed he will trim his PGA Tour schedule and will not play again before the FedEx St. Jude Championship as he plans to spend time with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.
  • He told reporters that the 2025 shift to a straight 72‑hole Tour Championship with a top‑30 points qualifier lowers the value of earlier playoff events and helped prompt his decision to be more selective.
  • McIlroy’s comments followed a tied‑for‑40th finish at The Open, where he said he felt "stuck in neutral," and he framed the break partly as a way to protect his motivation after major success.
  • The remarks drew sharp criticism from some fans and media for appearing to contradict his past calls for top players to compete together on the PGA Tour.
  • Separately, McIlroy welcomed a new multi‑year partnership announced by the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour that aims to expand playing and commercial pathways through at least 2029, a deal that could reshape global scheduling and opportunities for players.