Rory McIlroy Questions Golf's Schedule

The four-time Major winner says that golf lacks the anticipation that NFL does due to no real break

Rory McIlroy Questions Golf's Schedule
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major winner says that golf lacks the anticipation that NFL does due to having no real break

Rory McIlroy Questions Golf's Schedule

Rory McIlroy wants golf's worldwide schedule to have more year-wide relevance rather than its current five-month window.

The four-time Major winner tees it up at Wentworth this week in the BMW PGA Championship where he hinted that golf's current schedule isn't working because of the different entities involved in the game.

He has previously compared golf's Major schedule to that of tennis, and said in his pre-tournament press conference that he would love the five-month major season to be longer.

"Look, I think there's so many different stakeholders in the game. There's so many different -- and they all have their own priorities, right. The PGA Tour have their priority, The PGA of America have theirs, the USGA, R&A. There's so many different entities in the game and they are all pulling in different directions, and at some point or another, something is not quite going to work," he said.

"So I think it's the way it is for a while. My only thing is, you know, I love the game of golf and I as a fan would love to follow it for more than just the five months a year the majors are in. Just try and keep relevance there."

The World No.2 says that golf currently lacks the anticipation of other sports, in particular NFL, which has a seven-month lull leading up to the new season.

"If you look at the way like the NFL works in the States, they end -- the Super Bowl ends in February and they don't play their first game again until September and that anticipation; so maybe that seven months of anticipation to, Augusta is always Augusta and the type and that sort of stuff," he said.

"Maybe that is a good thing for the game. Time will tell."

McIlroy tees off on Thursday at 8.50am with Francesco Molinari and Shane Lowry.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV