Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy has voiced his opinion on the current major championship calendar, suggesting a more extended schedule would benefit both players and the sport's overall engagement. His comments come as he prepares for the Open Championship this week at Royal Birkendale, a decade after his maiden victory in the tournament.
The current major season spans four months, a compression that occurred seven years ago when the PGA Championship was moved from August to May. While McIlroy has enjoyed success across both eras of the schedule, his most prolific period, from 2011 to 2014, saw him secure four major titles, potentially influencing his desire for a more spaced-out calendar.
McIlroy articulated his preference, stating, "I'd like to see the major season spread out a little bit longer. The Masters is always going to have the build-up, but I think then PGA into US Open, US Open into here, it just seems like it's very, very quick." He acknowledged the player benefit of momentum but emphasised the broader appeal: "for the sport as a whole and for, I guess, the general interest in the game, obviously I can see the positives in the major season being stretched out a little bit longer."
As he hunts for his seventh major title, McIlroy, one of only seven golfers to achieve a career Grand Slam, also reflected on his legacy. When questioned by a reporter, he dismissed the idea of chasing records as a primary motivation. "I don’t really care," he responded. "I would like to think that the people that love and care about me think a certain way of me, but I’ll be long gone. I’ll be dead."
He further elaborated on his perspective, stating, "I don’t think I’ll be seeing what people say about me. I’ll be six feet under. I don’t think I’ll be a ghost. I think it would be a pretty unfulfilling pursuit if you’re just chasing records and results. You have to enjoy the journey to get there. I’ve learned that the hard way at times by chasing results and records too much." McIlroy has won the PGA Championship and The Masters twice each, placing him alongside Nick Faldo as one of Europe's most successful golfers.