Aiken golf enthusiasts following the professional circuit may be interested in recent comments from two-time European Tour winner Rob Lee, who suggested on September 2 that Rory McIlroy will need to increase his playing schedule if he aims to secure more major championships. McIlroy, 37, has adopted a reduced schedule in 2026, participating in only five official PGA Tour events since defending his Masters title in April.
McIlroy took an extended break after The Open in July, returning to competitive play as the playoffs began in Memphis. He finished 66th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship but improved to third at the BMW Championship. His PGA Tour season concluded with a share of fourth place at the Tour Championship, a notable achievement given he was seven strokes behind the leader after 36 holes.
Lee observed that McIlroy appeared slightly grumpy, noting that the golfer has been playing at the highest level for 20 years and is now considering other aspects of life. However, Lee believes that to maintain peak performance, McIlroy faces a dilemma: how much can he reduce his schedule while still performing at his best? Lee emphasized that 37 is still considered a prime age for golfers, and McIlroy’s future success will depend on his desire to win, which may necessitate playing more.
McIlroy himself stated on Sunday that his fuse is shorter than it once was and he will no longer play four events consecutively. He explained that he takes breaks when he loses enthusiasm for the course, as he wants to perform at his best in every tournament. McIlroy noted that his recent three-week stretch was his limit, and he last played four consecutive events in 2024, finding himself exhausted by the fourth week.
McIlroy is scheduled to return to action at the Amgen Irish Open from September 9-13, followed by the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth a week later. He plans to conclude his season in the Middle East, where he will compete for the Race to Dubai title, and also has a trip to India planned.
