Rory McIlroy has returned to the FedEx St Jude Championship this week after skipping the opening event of last year’s PGA Tour playoffs.
The Northern Irishman is back at TPC Southwind in Memphis for the tournament, which begins on Thursday, and says several factors contributed to his decision to play.
Rory McIlroy, currently 12th in the FedExCup standings, also revealed he has held conversations with PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp in recent weeks.
“I think having four weeks off going into the last two events of the year was probably going to be a little too much for me in terms of wanting to be competitive,” McIlroy said.
“So this is a good week to return.”
Rory McIlroy acknowledges the importance of Memphis return
Rory McIlroy was second in the FedExCup standings when last year’s playoffs began, meaning he was virtually guaranteed to advance to the BMW Championship even without playing in Memphis.
He instead opted for a break before returning for the second playoff event, where he finished tied for 12th before placing joint 23rd at the season-ending Tour Championship.
His decision to skip the opening event drew criticism from within the PGA Tour, with then-player director Peter Malnati suggesting changes could be considered.
There is no such issue this year, with McIlroy acknowledging the importance of players supporting the opening playoff event.
“I think it’s important to be here,” he continued. “I think it’s important for all the players to be here.”
McIlroy added that he had “some good conversations” with Rolapp over the past few weeks and wanted to show his support for the tour.
McIlroy treating playoffs as one long tournament
The four-time major champion also plans to approach the three-week playoff run as one extended competition rather than three separate events.
The players will travel from Memphis to Bellerive Country Club in St Louis for the BMW Championship before finishing at East Lake in Atlanta.
“I almost try to view the playoffs as one big, long tournament, like a 12-round event,” McIlroy said.
“You’ve got to pace yourself. It’s three long weeks.”
The heat will provide another challenge, particularly with the playoffs taking place during August.
McIlroy believes the two-player groups should make conditions more manageable, while his immediate focus is on assessing his game after his recent break.
“I obviously want to play well, but it’s also a good week to just see where my game is, do a lot of practice,” he said.
McIlroy will begin his latest FedExCup campaign in Memphis, looking to add another successful playoff run to his record.
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