McIlroy wants lighter 2013 golf schedule

World No.1 golfer Rory McIlroy has vowed to cut back his competitive schedule next year after the disappointment of missing the cut in the defence of his Hong Kong Open title.

McIlroy four-putted the final green on Friday to crash out of the event by three shots - the second time this year the 23-year-old has had to sit out the weekend rounds as defending champion after also missing the cut in June's US Open in San Francisco.

Before leaving Hong Kong for Dubai and the season-ending World Tour Championship, McIlroy said he will spend coming weeks working out where he will compete in 2013.

"Of course, you're going to miss cuts in your career, but it's not nice and it's a tough pill to swallow when you're the defending champion in a tournament," the Northern Irishman said.

"While there's a part of me that perhaps wished my year had ended as soon as I wrapped up the Race to Dubai, I now look back over the last couple of years wondering why did I stretch myself so much," he added. "I've probably played an extra couple of tournaments too much and I have learnt from the last few years, so that's why I'm cutting back my schedule even further from next year."

Counting next week's European Tour closing event, McIlroy will have contested 24 tournaments this season as well as the Ryder Cup and two exhibition events.

McIlroy arrived in Hong Kong sounding tired after wrapping up the Race to Dubai money title a week earlier with his third-placed finish at the Singapore Open.

"I'm not sure if the energy in trying to sew up the Race to Dubai and competing in the FedEx Cup has taken more out of me than maybe I thought because, while I am feeling OK physically, mentally I feel really tired," he said.

"When you achieve something that you want to achieve so bad, like the Race to Dubai, there is a letdown considering there are still two events remaining."

Last year, McIlroy competed in 22 regular European and PGA Tour events, but also contested the Grand Slam of Golf, the World Cup, the Korean Open and the China Golf Challenge.

After combined European and PGA Tour earnings this year of $US9.62 million ($A9.35 million), McIlroy will bank another $US1 million ($A973,000) by just teeing up in Dubai - the "bonus pool" first prize for capturing the Race to Dubai.

Source: http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8566299

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