McIlroy delivered shock waves to the European Tour and his Irish fans indicating on Tuesday he plans not to renew membership and hinting also he may skip contesting the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open next July in Lahinch.

“Right now my European Tour membership 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,” said McIlroy.

McGinley, writing in his latest Sky Sports Golf blog, described McIlroy’s move into to take-up 2019 membership as ‘quite extraordinary’.

“It’s very disappointing and it is obviously a blow for the European Tour,” wrote McGinley.

Should McIlroy not take-up Tour membership, he would be putting his Ryder Cup eligibility and also his future captaincy prospects in serious jeopardy.

And McGinley believes McIlroy has not considered this.

“I don’t think Rory is worried about what is going to happen in 20 years, which is what he would be looking at if he was going to become Ryder Cup captain or vice-captain,” he added.

“At this moment, he is worried about his golf and focused on what he’s doing in the next 12 months.

“At the end of the day, these players are sole traders and they make their own decisions. They make their own schedules and whether it be the PGA Tour or the European Tour, it’s very hard to get them to turn up. They will do what they want to do.”