Rory McIlroy Set To Commit To European Tour In 2019

Rory McIlroy now looks likely to retain his European Tour card after Keith Pelley flew out to Belfast

Rory McIlroy Set To Commit To European Tour In 2019
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy now looks likely to retain his European Tour card after Keith Pelley flew out to Belfast for 'crisis talks'

Rory McIlroy Set To Commit To European Tour In 2019

Rory McIlroy is set to commit to the European Tour next year after the Tour's Chief Executive Keith Pelley flew out to Belfast for crisis talks.

That's according to an exclusive from the Irish Mirror, which says that Rory 'is expected' to play the minimum of four regular European Tour events next year to retain membership.

News broke last month that McIlroy was only going to play in the Scottish Open and European Masters next year, missing the early season Desert Swing and Rolex Series events like the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.

That was going to see him play his first regular European Tour event in July but more importantly, lose out on the chance to Captain or Vice-Captain the European Ryder Cup team in the future.

He said at the time, "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.”

However, the Mirror say he could play two of the Dubai Desert Classic, Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.

McIlroy reportedly had crisis talks with Keith Pelley, who flew out to Belfast to meet him. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

If he were to play a Desert Swing event, he may opt to play in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship which is now a Rolex Series event.

Another likely addition may well be Wentworth. Keith Pelley would likely have pleaded with McIlroy to play in the Tour's flagship event which has a new spot in the schedule next year.

The new-look September BMW PGA Championship may well attract the event's biggest-ever field due to the PGA Tour season ending three weeks before it.

The four-time major winner is beginning his 2019 in Hawaii at the Tournament of Champions ahead of a new schedule featuring a tightly-packed season from March to August.

Expand Rory McIlroy: “I Never Dreamed Of Being Famous”

Rory McIlroy: "I Never Dreamed Of Being Famous"

Rory McIlroy: “I Never Dreamed Of Being Famous”

The four-time major winner was asked about being…

Expand Golf Rich List 2018 Revealed

Golf Rich List 2018 Revealed

Golf Rich List 2018 Revealed

Five golfers feature in Forbes' 2018 Highest-Paid Athletes…

Expand Rory McIlroy UK’s Wealthiest Sports Star 30 Or Under

Rory McIlroy UK's Wealthiest Sports Star

Rory McIlroy UK’s Wealthiest Sports Star 30 Or Under

The 29-year-old comes out top in the Sunday…

Expand McIlroy Says Crowds Cost Tiger Woods Two Shots A Week

McIlroy Says Crowds Cost Tiger Woods Two Shots A Week

McIlroy Says Crowds Cost Tiger Woods Two Shots A Week

Rory McIlroy says "Tiger Mania" distracts Woods from…

McIlroy had previously been criticised by Paul McGinley whilst Tony Jacklin stuck up for the Northern Irishman.

McGinley described McIlroy's move as “quite extraordinary and very disappointing."

Tony Jacklin stuck up for the 29-year-old, saying, “I’m in total agreement with his decision.

“He must have no regrets about what he’s trying to achieve in his career and from his point of view he’s got to be where the best players are. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

“You’ve only got one life and you don’t want to be looking back with regrets. The best tournaments are all that matter to a top golfer, all the other stuff is unimportant. The majors are the be-all and end-all for the great players and Rory is obviously a great player.”

For all the latest golf news, check the Golf Monthly website and follow our social media channels

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