Rory McIlroy Choosing to Focus on PGA – Leaving European Tour in 2019

Rory McIlroy has made the decision to forfeit his membership in the European Tour in 2019 so that he can focus his energies towards the U.S. PGA Tour. At this stage, it is planned only for the 2019 season.

While he is leaving the European Tour, McIlroy has stated that will play only two European events, both of which will be during the first half. This is a result of scheduling conflicts with the PGA Tour. The Announcement was made while Rory McIlroy was in Dubai for the Race to Dubai World Tournament.

The Irish golfer has had been successful on the European Tour and is ranked sixth going into the World Tour Championship. The reason given for leaving the European Tour relates to the Players’ Championship starting in March and the U.S. PGA Championship in May. Those changes have seen the BMW PGA Championship, which is a flagship event in the European Tour being moved to September.

McIlroy stated that is a direct result of the scheduling changes adding,

“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.

Continuing his explanation, McIlroy stated,

“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 … then go at it hard from March all the way through to basically the end of the season.”

One of the factors that made the choice to relinquish the European Tour membership was the fact that this year is a non-Ryder Cup year. McIlroy said that he will start his year off in the United States and it will remain his main focus straight through to August, at which point, he will revaluate.

As a former #1 ranked player, who today is ranked 7th, he has not had a win on the PGA Tour since 2016. The decision is in part, fueled by his desire to play against the strongest fields. McIlroy added,

One of the factors that made the choice to relinquish the European Tour membership was the fact that this year is a non-Ryder Cup year. McIlroy said that he will start his year off in the United States and it will remain his main focus straight through to August, at which point, he will revaluate.

As a former #1 ranked player, who today is ranked 7th, he has not had a win on the PGA Tour since 2016. The decision is, in part, fueled by his desire to play against the strongest fields. McIlroy added,

”If I want to continue to contend in the majors and to continue my journey back towards the top of the game, then that’s what I want to do. 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. I am always going to want to play the Ryder Cup and I will try and make the team the year later.”

McIlroy is now in Dubai in preparation for the Race to Dubai. While he had hoped to win his fourth Order of Merit crown, that is not possible. That crown will go to either Tommy Fleetwood or Francesco Molinari. Bettors interested in golf betting will find the Race to Dubai one of the best as it encompasses 47 tournaments that are held in 30 countries and four different continents. The race lasts the entire season, and its winner is crowned Europe’s best player.

The final will play out in Dubai starting on the 15th of November through to the 18th, and with exclusive signup bonuses from multiple top-ranked Canadian friendly golf betting sites, it is the prime opportunity to place your bets on whether Tommy Fleetwood or Francesco Molinari will win the Order of Merit crown.