Rory McIlroy Says He Will Pick And Choose PGA Tour Schedule Under Two-Track System

Rory McIlroy said he will continue to “pick and choose” his PGA Tour schedule even as the PGA Tour moves forward with a two-track system starting in 2028.

“- Published Rory McIlroy says he will continue to "pick and choose" the events he plays on the PGA Tour's new-look schedule "because it brings balance to my life"”

BBC

At the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, Jack Nicklaus said Tuesday that he’s “not exactly in favor of what [the Tour is] doing right now,” while McIlroy framed his own approach around balance and flexibility.

BBC

McIlroy told reporters he feels “a bit like a part-timer these days,” and he said he would back himself to finish in the top 100 if he plays a limited schedule with Track 1 events expanded to 120 players.

He also said he is okay with the tradeoff that it could make it harder to win the FedExCup or the season-long title race, because it lets him “enjoy things outside of the game.”

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp is described as envisioning a reimagined Tour with members having Track 1 or Track 2 status, with Track 1 including an expanded signature events schedule plus The Players Championship and the majors.

In that context, McIlroy said he would keep selecting his spots “like I have been doing sort of the last 18 months to two years,” and he reiterated that he would back himself to finish in the top 100 if he plays a limited schedule.

Golf Channel

The BBC reported that Rolapp’s proposals include promotion and relegation between different tiers of tournaments and more “signature events” with expanded fields of 120 players and 36-hole cuts.

McIlroy’s comments also set up a tension around who will commit to the biggest events, with HITC describing the Memorial Tournament as the first time since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March that Scottie Scheffler and McIlroy will have played in the same signature event.

McIlroy returns to action at this week’s Memorial Tournament, the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event in Ohio that he opted to skip last year, and he said it is one of two tournaments he is particularly keen to win before his career is out.

“Rory McIlroy says he will continue to be selective over when and where he plays on the PGA Tour”

Golfmagic

He told reporters, “I would say here and Tiger's event at Riviera, they're the two that I would love to win,” and he added that he wants to take “that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack's hand.”

Ahead of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills from June 18, McIlroy said he undertook a scouting mission earlier in the week and hopes officials do not let the green speeds “get too out of hand.”

McIlroy said, “The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2,” and he argued that “Anything over 12 is considered fast,” saying he “really don't think they need to get much faster” before the championship.