Rory McIlroy unsure whether he'll play golf's 'fifth major'
Rory McIlroy, the number-10 ranked golfer out of Northern Ireland, has already decided against joining the PGA Tour in 2011, opting to play the majority of his golf on the European Tour.
Now the 21-year-old fan favourite may not even play the Players Championship, often dubbed golf’s 'fifth major,' according to comments he made to the media at the Dubai World Championship.
"I don't like the course," said McIlroy, speaking of TPC Sawgrass, which hosts the Players in May. "That's one of the reasons I'm undecided whether to play it or not. That's not to say
the Players isn't a great event, it's very prestigious and it would be great to win it one day but it just might not suit my schedule next year."
In what is likely a concern for the PGA Tour, McIlroy is not the only big name who will forego full membership with the American tour. World-number one Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer,
ranked number-three in the world, have both opted for the European Tour for the upcoming season.
McIlroy said two European Tour events happening around the same time as the Players could prevent him from playing in the tournament that typically attracts one of the strongest fields
of the year. "You have the World Match Play Championship in Spain and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and they are two big events in the Race to Dubai (money list). I want to
try to win the Race to Dubai next year so I need to play the big events."
TPC Sawgrass, designed by Pete Dye, is known for its short but challenging par-three 17th hole, boasting an island green. The hole is one of the most recognizable in the world and more
often than not produces dramatic Sunday finishes.
But McIlroy has some issues with the course. "It makes you feel uncomfortable because it looks like you've only got a little bit of fairway to hit but actually once you get up there, it's
a little bit wider. It's just very demanding visually. It's personal preference. Some guys love Sawgrass and some guys don't like it so much."
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