BMW & more on Rory radar

BY DALE RANKIN that and try to better that. I’ll try not to let my foot off the pedal and finish the year the way I started it on a very positive note.

“Then I can really enjoy the off season – or whatever off season we have, December, January – reset and go again.”

McIlroy admits he had to “drag myself off the sofa” after almost two weeks off.

A hectic schedule took its toll after his play-off loss in the European Masters a week on from FedEx Cup success.

McIlroy said: “It’s been quite tough. I’m not used to playing this much golf in a short period of time.

“You used to play a couple weeks on, take a couple weeks off, play another couple weeks. I think I played 13 tournaments in a 16-week stretch. It is a lot of golf and something we’re going to have to get used to. It’s the new schedule, especially throw in the Olympics next year, the Ryder Cup and everything else.

“That’s why I needed those two weeks on the sofa just to sort of reset and get myself in the right place mentally to get motivated to go again for this last little bit of the year.”

The BMW PGA is being held this month instead of its traditional May date after the Major calendar was rejigged.

Ten of Europe’s Ryder Cupwinning team are teeing up, so too are Americans such as Tony Finau and Patrick Reed.

World No.2 McIlroy said: “Tony is a player who definitely wouldn’t play in this event if it was still in May. For the tournament this new date is going to be fantastic.”

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