Rory McIlroy admitted he is considering a late change to his pre-Masters schedule after a disappointing title defence at The Players.
McIlroy arrived at TPC Sawgrass without a practice round as he recovered from a back injury that saw him withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational the previous week, with the world No 2 unable to get in contention to win the PGA Tour’s flagship event for a third time.
He narrowly avoided missing the cut after rounds of 74 and 71 over the first two days, with McIlroy stuttering to a level-par 72 on Saturday before closing a final-round 71 over two hours before the final group teed off at TPC Sawgrass.
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Rory McIlroy opened his final round at The Players with a clumsy double-bogey and also made another double at the par-three 13th
McIlroy previously indicated that he wouldn’t play on the PGA Tour again before heading back to The Masters, live from April 9-12 on Sky Sports, although is keeping his options open ahead of his next title defence at Augusta National.
“I think I’m going to have to see,” McIlroy told Sky Sports about the possibility of adding an event. “See how my body, see how my game feels.
“If I get itchy feet at home I may add one, but if I feel like everything’s in good working order, we’ll see. I haven’t made a concrete plan yet.
“If I feel like I need to, I’ll add an event, but if I don’t feel like that then the next place you’ll probably see me is Augusta.”
McIlroy played the Texas Children’s Houston Open last year, two weeks before he completed the Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory, while he has also previously played the Valero Texas Open the week before The Masters.
This year’s Masters will be the first since he ended his 11-year wait for a fifth major title and became only the sixth male in history to complete the career Grand Slam, with McIlroy looking forward to his return next month.
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Watch highlights of Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster round to win The Masters, where he completed the career Grand Slam
“I get goosebumps still,” McIlroy added about his 2025 success. “It is a dream come true to drive down Magnolia Lane in a Green Jacket – it’s the one I wanted for so long.
“I am so grateful I could do it and had my family there to see me do it. I only have positive vibes going into this Masters, which perhaps hasn’t been the case over the last few seasons.
“I am looking forward to a slightly more stress-free Masters.”
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Rory McIlroy registered a birdie in the first play-off hole against Justin Rose to complete his fifth major victory
McIlroy ‘trying to take the positives’ after poor title bid
McIlroy mixed five birdies with two double bogeys during his final round, ending a week where he struggled on the greens and finished last of those making the cut in strokes gained putting.
“Happy I got through four days and my body feels good,” McIlroy told reporters. “I feel like my game progressively got a little bit better as the week went on, even though the scores probably didn’t reflect it over the weekend.
“I hit the ball well – I just didn’t make anything on the greens. Happy to come through four rounds and feel like my body held up well.
McIlroy was chasing a first win of the season
“A couple little things to work on, but overall, not the week that I wanted. Just trying to take the positives.”
What’s next?
The PGA Tour stays in Florida for the Valspar Championship, held at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 6pm.
There’s less than four weeks to go until the opening men’s major of the year, with McIlroy’s title defence at The Masters exclusively live from April 9-12 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
