Rory McIlroy prioritizes life balance over PGA Tour schedule demands

Rory McIlroy says he will continue to "pick and choose" the events he plays on the PGA Tour's new-look schedule "because it brings balance to my life".

The six-time major winner has been more selective with his schedule over the past couple of years and has only played two tournaments since retaining his Masters title in April.

Earlier this year, PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp unveiled proposals for the circuit's future, which includes promotion and relegation between different tiers of tournaments and more "signature events" with expanded fields of 120 players and 36-hole cuts.

"I've been doing this a long time. I've been on tour more than half of my life at this point," said Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who joked that he feels like a "part-timer these days".

"So I'll pick and choose my spots like I have been doing sort of the last 18 months to two years.

"Does it mean it makes it harder for myself to win the FedExCup or whatever the season-long title race is going to be called? Absolutely. But I'm OK with that because it brings balance to my life and lets me enjoy things outside of the game."

After taking some time off following the US PGA Championship - where he finished tied seventh - McIlroy returns to action at this week's Memorial Tournament.

Last year, the 37-year-old opted to skip the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event in Ohio for the first time since 2017, having also missed two signature tournaments at The Sentry and RBC Heritage.

The world number two admitted the Memorial is one of two tournaments - along with the Tiger Woods-fronted Genesis Invitational - he is desperate to add to a decorated CV that features a career Grand Slam, 45 professional wins and six Ryder Cup triumphs with Team Europe.

"I would say here and Tiger's event at Riviera, they're the two that I would love to win," said McIlroy, whose best finish in 13 appearances at Muirfield Village was tied fourth in 2016.

"I've been lucky enough to win at Bay Hill, but not while Arnold [Palmer] was alive. So I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack's hand.

"Also, Jack and I share a nice history. We've known each other now for nearly 20 years, or I've known him for nearly 20 years. He's been nothing but great to me and my family. So this is certainly one I would love to get done."

This week's Memorial will be McIlroy's last event before this month's US Open at Shinnecock Hills - and he revealed he undertook a scouting mission to the New York course earlier this week.

McIlroy missed the cut when Shinnecock last hosted the US Open in 2018, and while he was buoyed by what he saw before this year's championship, he outlined the importance of tournament organisers the United States Golf Association (USGA) maintaining control of the green speeds.

In 2018, Phil Mickelson apologised for putting a moving ball on Shinnecock's sun-baked greens, while in 2004 the par-three seventh green was called "unplayable" and had to be watered during the last round after two players putted off the green into bunkers.

"The fairways are very generous. They're more generous than they were in 2018 but the first cut of rough is five inches long," said McIlroy.

"The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2 [anything over 12 is considered fast and last year's US Open at Oakmont was between 13 and 14], something like that and I really don't think they need to get much faster.

"I think if they can keep them at that speed they can get them firm and use the hole locations that they want to use without having some of the struggles that they have had the last couple of US Opens.

"It's all about them just maintaining the green speeds really where they are, not getting them too out of hand, and I think it will be a great week."

Grouped with two-time major winner Justin Thomas, McIlroy begins his bid for a first Memorial win at 15:25 BST on Thursday.