Rory McIlroy acknowledged that in his 19th year as a professional golfer, his patience may be waning. The 37-year-old world No. 2, who has recently experienced a resurgence in his performance, stated that he no longer plays four weeks in a row, a practice he finds taxing.
"I think once you start to lose your enthusiasm to go to the course, it’s time to take a break," McIlroy said at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. "I’ve turned up to events that I haven’t necessarily wanted to be there because I feel like I should be. If I’m going to show up to a tournament, I want to perform at my best and play my best, and there’s been times when I haven’t done that."
McIlroy expressed frustration with his own performance, noting that "no one wants to see me just go through the motions and be out there." He identified playing three consecutive weeks as his limit, recalling that a four-event stretch in previous years' playoffs led him to feel he could not continue.
"Maybe my fuse is a little shorter than it used to be," McIlroy added.
During the Tour Championship, McIlroy shot a 7-under 63 to reach 10-under par, finishing tied for seventh. He had bogeyed three of his first five holes in the final round. Scottie Scheffler ultimately won the FedExCup title, overcoming a three-shot deficit.
Earlier in the month, McIlroy finished 66th out of 68 competitors at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He described feeling "lost" during that tournament, attributing his struggles to swing issues and a feeling of being "far away from where I need to be."
McIlroy also commented that his priorities have shifted, stating "not all of my eggs are in the golf basket" and that balancing his personal life with his career is challenging.