Should Rory McIlroy Continue To Be A Two-Tour Golfer?

With Rory McIlroy shutting it down now until the U.S. Open (as Tim Rosaforte reported from Newcastle), the world No. 1 heads into Chambers Bay with unexpectedly awkward momentum.

When talking about Jaime Diaz's column about McIlroy's artistic temperament, I contended on Morning Drive that the underlying issues at Royal County Down still relate to his lingering feelings for exposed golf versus inland layouts.

But as Gary Williams and I discussed on the show in the wake of McIlroy's BMW MC, McIlroy also will have to learn to say no if he'd like to retain his sanity, enjoy the spoils of his riches and prolong his career. That's right, he really needs to say no to one of the year-end playoff chases (FedExCup or Race To Dubai).

Derek Lawrenson, taking issue with the "Americans" in "full cry" over suggestions that McIlroy is not superhuman, makes a case that McIlroy's ability to reach World No. 1 status and win four majors has happened while retaining a worldwide schedule, something Tiger has not done to the same extent as McIlroy.

Woods played 23 or so tournaments every year and 20 or 21 of them would be in America. Between February and October the only time he would travel abroad would be for The Open, and he would never dream of putting himself out to play four tournaments in a row, let alone five.

Contrast that to McIlroy, who has just played two in Europe on top of three in America. Now it’s back to the States, then back to Europe for The Open, then back to America for six events, then off to China and the Middle East before the year is done. Travel the world to play all sorts of courses in all sorts of weather, with the added factor of mental fatigue, and inevitably it’s going to affect consistency.

Now who would have thought the Americans wouldn’t consider something as obvious as that? Not an insular lot by any chance, are they?

I doubt insularity drove the comments of Diaz. But since this is on the table, perhaps McIlroy should take this to heart and choose a tour if in fact his schedule continues to become a problem? I hope not. He's a grand worldwide ambassador and that he enjoys the job of being a sportsman in the limelight is great for the sport.

But we all know which tour he'd pick if it comes to consolidating his schedule to one continent. The "Americans" would be even more hated should that day come.