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Expect to see a lot more of Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour in 2019

By David Salituro

LAHAINA, HAWAII - JANUARY 01: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Golf Club Plantation course on January 01, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HAWAII - JANUARY 01: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot during a practice round prior to the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Golf Club Plantation course on January 01, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Rory McIlroy begins his 2019 season this week in Hawaii with a fresh focus on playing primarily on the PGA Tour this year.

Rory McIlroy’s globetrotting days appear to be over.

McIlroy, who turns 30 in May, begins his 2019 season with a new focus for his career. Instead of constantly shuttling between the United States and Europe, the Northern Ireland native insists he’s fully committed to playing entirely on the PGA Tour in 2019.

In 2018 McIlroy played 18 PGA events, tying a career high, while also playing seven times on the European Tour (excluding co-sanctioned events). While he’s already begun shifting his attention more to America, he’s ready to begin a new chapter in his career where his entire focus is on the PGA.

McIlroy says the reason for the shift is because of his current lifestyle. He now makes his permanent residence in Florida, and the constant trips back home to Europe are proving too much of a hassle.

“My life’s here. I have an American wife. I live in America,” McIlroy told reporters at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii this week. “Honestly, I enjoy it here more. The way of life is easier. The weather. The convenience.”

That McIlroy is in Hawaii this week is the first sign of his new priorities. He’s never played in the Tournament of Champions, and usually makes his season debut on the PGA Tour in February or March. He explains the early start to his season by saying after so many years splitting time between the two tours, it’s time for a change.

“I want to switch it up. I’ve done it for 11 years so I may as well do something a little different,” he said. “I’m sick of always showing up in Florida 100th in the FedEx Cup.”

Playing primarily in the U.S. will help McIlroy accomplish the one thing missing from his career. He needs only the Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, and competing on a regular basis against the best of the world, not to mention the toll constant travel took on him in previous years, will better prepare him to be a factor at Augusta in April.

McIlroy, currently eighth in the World Golf Rankings, qualified for the Tournament of Champions by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational last March. It was his first win anywhere in 18 months. While it proved to be his only PGA Tour win in 2018, he hopes this new phase in his career will make him fresher and ready to reclaim his spot atop the world rankings.

One tournament in Europe that he is looking forward to is the Open Championship, being held this year at Royal Portrush, the same course he grew up playing in Northern Ireland (and where he set the course record at age 16). But that is still months away. For now McIlroy is permanently settled in America, and has no plans to go back home anytime soon.

McIlroy tees off at Kapalua on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. local time (5 p.m. EST) with Xander Schauffele.

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