Rory McIlroy makes 'hangover' admission after US Open and admits its affecting his game

Rory McIlroy has revealed plans to significantly cut back his playing schedule for the next season , following a year in which he admits he 'hit a wall'. By the end of his 2024 campaign in November, the world No 3 will have participated in 27 competitions, prompting him to reconsider how he organizes his calendar.

McIlroy, who hasn't won a major in a decade, now aims to compete between 18 and 20 times in 2025 a substantial decrease in his tournament commitments. This decision comes as a result of his active involvement in the lengthy merger discussions in golf.

He said: "It's been a long season and I'm going to just have to think about trying to build in a few extra breaks here and there next year and going forward because I felt like I hit a bit of a wall sort of post-US Open (where he collapsed in the final three holes) and still feel a little bit of that hangover."

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"I'm usually sort of like a 22 sort of person. But again, that was when I was sort of in my 20s and didn't have the responsibilities that I do now. I'm going to try to cut it back to like 18 or 20 a year going forward, I think."

Meanwhile, The professional golf world has been stirred up by McIlroy's comments on diminishing enthusiasm for the sport .

McIlroy pointed out a 20 per cent drop in TV audience for events like the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's unimpressive viewership figures , attributing the downward spiral to fans' exhaustion with the ongoing spat between the two leagues.

He warned that this ongoing tussle could be harmful to golf overall in comments that really resonated with golf fans around the world .

Debates raged among online golf enthusiasts with numerous fans arguing that McIlroy's concerns are minimal compared to the "real issues" afflicting the sport today. Comments abounded lambasting golf for becoming more about cash than quality play.

Critiques have also zeroed in on the FedEx Cup as part of the problem, with gripes that it sidelines lesser-known players by gradually narrowing down competitors from 70 top point earners to 50 and further down to 30, thus removing promising new talent from the spotlight.

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Golf enthusiasts are lamenting the loss of personality and excitement in the sport, with one fan expressing, "No one knows many golfers on the PGA anymore; it's a who's that, not a who's who. There are a handful of players anyone can identify right. It may turn around as people get to know some of these up-and-comers. Look at all the first-time winners there have been. You don't see the great battles like you used to."

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