Some nine months on and Rory McIlroy again found himself somewhat justifying his 2019 early season decision not to re-join the European Tour and instead focus the start of a new year for a first time in his career on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy’s decision raised more than a few eyebrows and with many quick to criticise the four-time Major winner not staying loyal the European Tour’s ‘Desert Swing, and where for all but one season in his pro career, he had begun a New Year.
The four-time Major winner continued to defend his decision up to an including the WGC – Mexico Championship in February, the WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship in March and April’s first major, the Masters.
It was only at last fortnight’s BMW PGA Championship that McIlroy revealed it had his wife, Erica who had prompted him to take-up European Tour membership.
Rory McIlroy hinting he will again commence a New Year in 2020 by competing on the PGA Tour (Photo @tourmiss)
And it was following his closing round in Sunday’s concluding Alfred Dunhill Links Championship McIlroy found himself again facing question over his move to play more in the 2020 in the US than travel to European Tour stops in either South Africa or the Middle East.
McIlroy said: “I’ll definitely do the same again.
“I don’t want to travel that much anymore. I’ve done it for 12 years and now I want to have these easy flights and not have to go across eight or nine times all the time, to get acclimatised and all that.
“I’m happy to do what I’ve done this year and winning the FedEx Cup was validation of that decision to a few more in the States.
“I’m getting stick but I’m turning down millions of dollars to go to Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia because I want to do the right thing by playing on the courses I want to play at.
“I don’t think I should get stick for that because I feel like I’m doing the right thing, you know.
“It’s been a great year. I won the FedEx Cup. I won The Players Championship. I’ve won big events and I’ve consistently played well.
“Every week I show up and I shoot good scores and play good golf, and if I just keep continuing to do that, I’ll be in a good spot next year.”
Ahead for McIlroy is nearly a month off from competition before travelling later in October for the Japan Skins (October 21st) and then the inaugural ZoZo Championship and starting on October 24th.
McIlroy will then contest the WGC – HSBC Championship and wind-up his 12th full season in the pro ranks in the European Tour season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
“I’ve got three weeks back at home, and then go Japan, China, and then go back to the States for two weeks and then play Dubai,” he said.
“Then I’ll probably take two months off and then come back, sort of end of January.”
Though foremost in his plans is an event next Saturday.
“My dad’s turning 60 next Saturday, so we’ll just go out for a bit of dinner,” said McIlroy.
