Rory McIlroy’s decision to focus on the United States from the start of 2019 marks a significant blow to the European Tour as it prepares for its season-ending event in Dubai. McIlroy has left the prospect he will not become a full European Tour member for a year as a live one.
McIlroy confirmed on Tuesday that he has just two regular tour events planned for Europe from January, a scenario which will not change – if at all – until after all four major championships have been completed. European Tour guidelines state four must be played for full membership. While there remains scope for the Northern Irishman to feature in season ending tournaments, this is a situation the European Tour’s chief executive, Keith Pelley, could do without regarding such a high-profile player. McIlroy is now a US resident.
Pelley had earlier stated his intention to make Europe a “viable alternative” to the PGA Tour. Justin Rose, the world No 2, has chosen not to feature in Dubai this week as he readies himself for an equipment change. Pelley has also come under fire regarding a European Tour competition being introduced next year in Saudi Arabia.
McIlroy admitted “I don’t know” when asked whether he will renew European Tour membership, a call he must formally make before May.
“I am starting my year off in the States and that will be the big focus of mine up until the end of August and then we will assess from there,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of ‘pure’ European Tour events on my schedule up until the end of August. I guess my thing is that I want to play against the strongest fields week-in and week-out and for the most part of the season that is in America.
“If I want to continue to contend in the majors and to continue my journey back towards the top of the game, then that’s what I want to do.”
Pertinently, 2019 sees drastic alterations to the golf schedule on both sides of the Atlantic. McIlroy, currently ranked No 7 in the world, had already been confirmed as participating in the European Masters, which takes place in Switzerland from the end of August. The likelihood is either the Irish or Scottish Opens will form the build-up to a bid to win a second Open Championship. The latter may take precedence as falling immediately before the Open.
“Right now that is all sort of up in the air but if it were to be that I don’t fulfil my membership next year, it’s not a Ryder Cup year so it’s not the end of the world,” McIlroy said. “I am always going to want to play the Ryder Cup, so if that does happen so be it and I will try and make the Ryder Cup team with the year after it.”
A fascinating subplot relates to a recently-introduced European Tour rule. Under that: “Players cannot be a European Ryder Cup captain or a vice-captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season, from 2018 onwards.” In reality, it seems highly unlikely McIlroy – a four-times major champion – would be denied such Ryder Cup status but this regulation could prove problematic.
McIlroy hopes he has sorted another troublesome issue, this time relating to missing fairways. The 29-year-old has placed a new driver in his bag for this week’s DP World Tour Championship, having been concerned by a series of shots heading right from the tee.
“I’ve had that right miss in the bag with the driver pretty much all year,” he explained. “That’s never [previously] been a shot I’ve had. It’s always been, if anything, I’d miss it left, I’d turn it over too much. If anything, I see maybe a little draw, and I haven’t been able to do that this year. So I’ve sort of been playing against my natural instincts, which sometimes is tough to trust.
“I drove it well parts of the year but then whenever I got into final groups and under pressure, that right shot began to become more apparent. So you’re always trying to make your equipment help you as much as you can.”
