2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP winner Rory McIlroy has confirmed a major he will adjust his schedule ahead of the opening major of the season.
The Holywood native overcame J.J Spaun in a tense Monday playoff as he became the first European to win the ‘fifth major’ on two occasions.
Both McIlroy and Spaun finished 72 holes tied at 12-under par, forcing a playoff after the event couldn’t be finished on Sunday night due to poor light.
The Down ace scooped a massive $4.5 million payday for the win from the $20m purse on offer at PGA Tour HQ.
The win was the Northern Irishman’s second of the season after claiming the AT&T Pebble Beach Signature event.
And his full focus is now set on Augusta National as the battle for the green jacket is just weeks away.
The Masters gets underway on April 10, and the Holywood hotshot has confirmed that he’ll add an event to his schedule as he looks to end an 11 year wait for a fifth major title.
World number two McIlroy admitted that he’ll play one of two events before his trip to Georgia.
The three-time FedEx Cup winner is not on any of the next three entrant lists for the upcoming PGA Tour events ahead of the Masters.
But that will change as he’ll play the Texas Children’s Houston Open or the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.
Speaking after his win at TPC Sawgrass, the Down native confirmed he’ll add one or the other to his schedule as he reckons three weeks is too long to take off ahead of a major.
He stated: “It is a little too much [ time off]. I’ll play one or the other of the events in Texas – wether it’s Houston or San Antonio – I’m sure… yeah.”
Meanwhile, speaking after the victory in Florida at Sawgrass, the 36-year-old admitted that it was the most nervous he has been in a long time.
The Holywood hotshot blew a two-shot lead thru 15 holes in the final round at Pinehurst No.2, he went on to miss short putts at 16 before before a horror show on 18.
But he’s certain the playoff win over Spaun will stand to him with the Masters on the horizon.
Speaking with the media after the win at TPC Sawgrass, he said: “Honestly, standing over that tee shot on 16, it’s the most nervous I’d been in a long time.
“So, I think that will stand to me, feeling like that – being able to hit the golf shots that I need, while your stomach is not feeling great and legs are a little shaky, and your heart-rate is racing.
“To have to go through that today – it’s nice to have that in recent memory for some of the tournaments coming up, for sure.”
