McIlroy break hits Tour

RORY McILROY’S decision to completely shut down his season following October’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a huge blow to the European Tour.

Not only has McIlroy ruled out contesting the one remaining WGC event in China and the last four Rolex Series events, but he intends to start his 2018 season in Hawaii and will compete in the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing.

It would be a huge blow to his personal sponsors Omega if he also did not contest January’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy said yesterday that if he wins any of the four FedEx Cup events, starting with today’s Northern Trust tournament on New York’s Long Island, then he will begin 2018 on January 4 at the winners-only Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii.

This decision comes after his fitness scare following the recent PGA Championship.

McIlroy said: “In the time off following the Dunhill I am going to get a full health and body screening, including blood tests, biomechanical tests and a food and tolerance test to see if there are any foods I eat that are causing inflammation in my body. It will also be nice to have this near three-month lay-off to reflect on the upcoming season.

“But then I intend to play in Hawaii if I win one of these next four FedEx Cup Playoff events, as I have never started my year in Hawaii – and if I don’t I will most likely start in San Diego.

“Of course, I do have commitments with Omega and playing in Dubai so I am not sure, but I do want to play a lot of those events on the West Coast.

“I just want to get everything 100 per cent the right way so that for the next 10, 12 to 15 years, I know exactly what I am doing and what I am working on.”