Rory McIlroy Signals He Will Continue Skipping PGA Tour Signature Events, Cites Roger Federer
World No. 2 says he will prioritise a varied global schedule, majors and Ryder Cup over meeting PGA Tour event expectations
Rory McIlroy said he will continue to skip some of the PGA Tour’s most prized tournaments as he pursues a more diverse schedule in the later stages of his career, and pointed to a conversation with Roger Federer as part of his decision. The world No. 2 said he wants to play “where I want to play” and will focus on the majors and the Ryder Cup while selecting other events by preference rather than to satisfy tour minimums.
McIlroy, who won the Irish Open on Sunday and is contesting the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week, confirmed plans to compete in India next month and in Australia in December, with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai sitting between those dates. He missed three of the PGA Tour’s eight signature events in 2025 and said that pattern is likely to continue.
"I want to go and play in different places in the world and experience things that I haven't experienced before," McIlroy said Tuesday. "Going to India to play for the first time, that excites me. I don't want to name a tournament, but you're going back to the same place, the same thing 15, 20 years in a row, it can get a little bit monotonous and a little bit tedious."
He credited a conversation with Federer, saying the former tennis world No. 1 had told him he wanted to play in places he had not been able to visit during his career. "I had a chat with Roger Federer a few years ago and he was saying he wanted to go and play a lot of the places he could never play in his career," McIlroy said. "I think as time goes on and I get to this stage of my career, I get excited about doing that sort of thing."
McIlroy, 36, added: "At this point I want to play golf when I want to play golf. I want to play in the locations that I love to go to, and I want to play the majors and the Ryder Cup. That's it. I'm not going to be going by minimums or anything else. I'll obviously do my bit to make sure I keep my membership and all that on certain tours, but I'm going to play where I want to play."
The comments highlight a growing tension between elite global players and the PGA Tour’s expectations around participation in its highest-profile events, which generate significant television and sponsorship revenue. Tournament organisers and tour officials have long encouraged top players to appear at signature events, which include elevated purses and ranking points, but McIlroy has mixed his calendar with stops on the DP World Tour and exhibitions for years.
McIlroy’s decision arrives as he prepares for the Ryder Cup and seeks to build momentum following his Irish Open victory. He has been a regular at Wentworth, winning the BMW PGA Championship in 2014 and finishing runner-up twice in recent years. McIlroy said the Irish Open win did not alter his broader approach to scheduling, calling it "great" but emphasising that it was part of his preparation for the commitments he regards as most important.
Officials on both sides of the Atlantic have not publicly altered policy in response to McIlroy’s announcement. The PGA Tour retains rules and membership requirements related to event commitments, and McIlroy acknowledged he will "do his bit" to maintain membership where necessary. His comments, however, reinforce a broader debate about how international stars balance commercial obligations, personal preferences and the traditional tournament structure as they plan the final third of their competitive careers.