Speaking ahead of the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort, the world number two said his goal for his 18th season on tour was to end a drought that dates back to August 2014 and find the “last piece”. He argued that his goal was to find a way to combine his newfound stability in the majors. In 2024 “out of his four in the puzzle he is trying to knock out one”.
The 34-year-old, who recently judged the LIV Golf Rebels too harshly and said he now accepts that breakaway tours are part of the game, is no stranger to the more global schedule of the game’s top players. I hope.
“Unofficially, we’re kind of playing most of the world schedule anyway,” McIlroy said ahead of this week’s new pro-am-style event featuring Tom McKibbin next week. Speaking ahead of his title defense at the Dubai Desert Classic.
“If you look at all the tournaments where all the top players play informally, without any structure, with it not existing between several different tours, it’s at least what the global tours are like. I think we have a large part of what it is.
“We still need to make sure the biggest tournaments are held in America. Obviously, that’s the biggest place we play.
“But we are also trying to elevate the status of other tournaments around the world. That means there are a lot of opportunities out there.
“If we really want to, if everyone is talking about and trying to grow the game, especially if these investors are coming into our game and want a return on capital, then everyone would want to do more. I think we need to start thinking globally.” Around that, but global in the overall sense, I don’t really like this tour, that tour, and the other tour.
“Well, what’s best, what’s the best structure for elite professional golf, the top 70 to 100 players in the world, and what will that look like, especially as the game looks different going forward? If everything changes, it’s on the table. I just think it’s worth having that conversation.”
The United States is now the main player as a coalition of U.S. sports investors led by Fenway Sports Group enters the final round of negotiations to become a co-investor in a potential deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. McIlroy believes it’s important to remain a destination.
“Basically, because they have the most money,” he said. “You know, they’ve proven over the last 20 to 30 years that American companies are interested in the game of golf for a variety of reasons, and that America remains a huge market for our game of golf. ..
Today’s sports news in 90 seconds – January 10th
“America has become such a huge market that other markets around the world probably won’t be able to thrive as well. If we can all start working together a little more, the rising tide will lift all boats. , or I think it lifts all boats.” And I think that’s how we came to that line of thinking, thinking about what’s best for professional golf. ”
He outlined his vision for the World Tour, adding that players would have to agree to sign a guarantee meaning they would stage a certain number of events.
“If you look at the landscape of different sports and media and how much media companies are paying for sporting events, I think they have to be able to ensure that they get a product that’s worth the price that they’re paying,” he said. Told.
“So, in my opinion, yeah, people need to commit and sign up for a certain number of events each year, and I think sponsors and media partners should know that the players they want to participate in are going to participate. Masu” “
As for his hopes for 2024, he is looking upbeat after winning the Race to Dubai for the fifth time last season and finishing in the top 10 three times last year, as he nears the end of a long drought. .
“Well, I’m looking forward to this year,” he said. “This is my 18th full season on tour, which is crazy to think about. But I’m just as excited as I was the first time.
“With every new year, every new opportunity, every new goal, I think my consistency has really remained the same over the last few years, even though I haven’t won a single big tournament. That’s part of the puzzle. I think it’s the final piece.”For me, especially coming out of the coronavirus, I went through some dips in my game, but then I came back and played really well the last few years.
“The final piece of the puzzle is ripping off one of these four.”