Rory McIlroy has seemingly ruled out capturing golf’s ‘double crown’ and that is winning both the PGA Tour FedEx Cup and European Tour Race to Dubai titles in the same season.

Twice before in his now 12-year pro career McIlroy has won the double and that was in 2012 and then in 2014.

McIlroy collected a third FedEx Cup No. 1 title with his victory late August at the Tour Championship but he currently trails well back in 24th place on the Race to Dubai and well adrift of fellow Irishman Shane Lowry.

Of course, this standing was not helped by McIlroy’s controversial decision at the start of the year not to rejoin the European Tour and meaning results such as his second place result in the WGC – Mexico Championship did not count.

Rory McIlroy ruling out the likekihood of capturing the ‘double crown’ for a third time in his career’ (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

And with the current World No. 2 suggesting he is only scheduled to make two more European Tour appearances this season and those being the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, it is no wonder the 30-year old is playing down his Dubai victory chances.

“I wouldn’t be too confident about doing the double,” he said.

“Besides, I’m just not playing enough to do that.

“I’m playing here, then I’m going to the Far East to play a PGA Tour event in Japan and then play in China, which is a co-sanctioned event, and then play Dubai.

“I’m probably not playing enough to win the Race to Dubai, but you never know if I win a couple and at least give myself a chance.”

And after playing catch-up over the weekend last week at the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy could well have done with taking a double-bogey just four holes from home in a round of 70 at Carnoustie on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

It left the four-time Major winner already trailing seven shots off the lead set by South African Justin Walters who shot a brilliant bogey-free 63 on the Old Course at St. Andrews.