Rory McIlroy: ‘I have to take care of myself’ – world number three on reduced schedule

Rory McIlroy is planning to retain key DP World Tour events as part of his schedule next year while reducing his PGA Tour commitments after an intense 2024.

This week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where McIlroy is poised to win his sixth Race to Dubai title, marks the 27th and final event of the world number three’s season.

“If I can trim it down to 22 or 23, that will be good for me in the long run,” the four-time major winner from Northern Ireland told BBC Sport in an interview that will be aired in full on Radio 5 Live from 20:30 GMT on Wednesday.

“I have to remember I’m 35, I’m knocking on a little bit – I have the grey hairs to prove it.

“At 35, I’ve been on tour for 17 or 18 years, I’m not slowing down but I just have to take care of myself and my body a little bit more.”

McIlroy told the Daily Telegraph, external last week that to help meet those ambitions he is planning to miss one of the PGA Tour’s $20m ‘signature events’ and the first event of the end-of-season FedEx Cup play-offs.

In his BBC interview, he insisted: “I’m not going to miss these tournaments in the Middle East, I’m not going to miss Wentworth, the Irish Open or the Scottish Open.

“There were a few events I played in America this season that I don’t typically play and I think that’s where I’m going to have to trim a little bit.”