Rory McIlroy could be a high profile absentee from next year’s Irish Open in Lahinch as he cuts back on his schedule on the European Tour.
To maintain his European Tour card, McIlroy needs to play four European Tour tournaments outside the majors and World Golf Championship events, but currently only has two on his schedule.
The 29-year-old said that he was taking the decision to play more PGA Tour golf throughout the 2018-19 season as it is non-Ryder Cup year.
Players must be a member of the European Tour to be eligible to play in the Ryder Cup and, under new regulations introduced in January 2017, "players cannot be a European Ryder Cup captain or a vice-captain if they decline membership of the European Tour or fail to fulfil their minimum event obligation in any season, from 2018 onwards."
"I am starting my year off in the States and that will be the big focus of mine up until the end of August and then we will assess from there," McIlroy said ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
