McIlroy Hints At US Campaign In 2019 In Pursuit Of Top Spot
Sumaira FH Published November 14, 2018 | 02:45 AM
Dubai, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Nov, 2018 ) :Rory McIlroy dropped a bombshell Tuesday by hinting he could give up his European Tour membership in an effort to get back to the top of the world rankings next year.
The world number seven plans to concentrate on playing in the United States, especially with the changes that have been made to the 2019 world golf schedule.
Four-time major winner McIlroy is a three-time champion of the Tour's Race to Dubai and has been a part of every European Ryder Cup team since 2010.
Next year, the WGC-Mexico Championship will be played in February, the Players Championship has been advanced to March, the Masters in April, the PGA Championship has been moved to May and the US Open is in June.
Which means there will be one big tournament every month across the Pacific until the British Open in July.
"I am starting my year off in the States (at the Tournament of Champions) and that will be the big focus of mine up until the end of August and then we will assess it from there," said the former world No1.
"I think it is the result of the changes," he explained ahead of the Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
"I don't have to commit to anything until May, so I will not have played a European Tour event... I will play the WGCs and majors and events like that, but the true European Tour season does not start until July.
"The way the schedule has worked for next year, it is going to be different for a lot of guys.
"Everything is going to be so condensed between March and August, and that is why I am taking a big off-season to get myself ready, and then go at it hard from March all the way through to basically the end of the season." The former world No1 has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational this year - his only title in the last two years - and he is eager to get back to the top echelon of the sport.
"I'd maybe give it like a B-minus, and a win this week would get it up to a B," said McIlroy about his season.
"I don't want to continue to dwell on the negatives. There's been a lot of positives in there, as well. I've played very consistently. I've had 10 top-10s. I finished second and had a great chance to win The Open.
"Obviously the game's right there. It's just a matter of doing it when I need to do it most."He added: "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 is ranked sixth in the Race to Dubai this week, which means even if he wins the tournament, he won't be able to surmount front-runners Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood and secure a fourth European No1 crown.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
LCCI language courses from May 1
More Stories From World
-
Hamas to stay in Doha if 'useful' for Gaza war mediation: Qatar
4 minutes ago -
London stock market strikes record as sentiment lifts globally
14 minutes ago -
In Brazil, hopes to use AI to save wildlife from roadkill fate
1 hour ago -
Taiwan hit by dozens of strong aftershocks from deadly quake
1 hour ago -
Ambassador Hashmi visits Linyi city in Shandong province
2 hours ago -
Norway women bring seaweed to culinary heights in Europe
2 hours ago
-
Ukrainian agriculture minister suspected in corruption scandal
2 hours ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
2 hours ago -
London stock market hits record high
2 hours ago -
Five migrants die attempting Channel crossing: French police source
3 hours ago -
Migrant detentions set to begin after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
3 hours ago -
China slams US claims it is fuelling Ukraine war
3 hours ago