Rory McIlroy explained that his desire to live a fruitful life off the golf course is the reason fans are seeing less of him lately.
“I’ll pick and choose my spots like I have been doing sort of the last 18 months to two years,” McIlroy, 37, told reporters on Wednesday, June 3.
McIlroy, who has only played in two tournaments since winning his second consecutive Masters Tournament in April, jokingly called himself a “part-timer these days.”
“Does it mean it makes it harder for myself to win the FedExCup or whatever the season-long title race is going to be called? Absolutely,” he acknowledged. “But I’m OK with that because it brings balance to my life and lets me enjoy things outside of the game.”
McIlroy returns to the course this week at the Memorial Championship, held at Dublin, Ohio’s Muirfield Village Golf Club, his first tournament since finishing in a tie for seventh place at the PGA Championship in mid-May.
The Northern Irish golfer caused a bit of controversy when he decided to skip last year’s Memorial Championship, which is hosted by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus.
NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA – MAY 17: Rory McIlroy looks on from the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Andrew Redington/Getty Images
At the time, Nicklaus, 86, said he was “surprised” by McIlroy’s decision.
“I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not,” Nicklaus told reporters in May 2025. “That’s just his call.”
This year, McIlroy explained that he’s desperate to win the Memorial, a title that has eluded him over the course of his career.
Rory McIlroy was singled out by President Donald Trump at the White House’s state dinner in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. In the middle of his speech at the event on Tuesday, April 28, Trump, 79, stopped to congratulate McIlroy, 36, for his “unconquerable courage” after winning his second consecutive Masters Tournament […]
“I always thought it would be cool to win here and take that little walk up the hill off the 18th green and shake Jack’s hand,” McIlroy said on Wednesday. “Jack and I share a nice history. We’ve known each other now for nearly 20 years, or I’ve known him for nearly 20 years. He’s been nothing but great to me and my family. So this is certainly one I would love to get done.”
McIlroy taking on a lighter golf schedule has coincided with increased interest in his personal life. In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, before calling it off the following month.
“I feel like I live two different lives,” McIlroy told reporters at the 2025 U.S. Open. “I’m a dad and a husband when I’m away from here, and then I’m who I am when I’m here.”
McIlroy and Stoll, 38, share 5-year-old daughter Poppy.
