Rory McIlroy says he doesn't intend to make it a habit to miss Irish Opens, having played the event this week for the first time since 2018.
McIlroy hosted the event between 2015 and 2018, winning in the K Club in 2016. However, he opted out over the past two years, in Lahinch in 2019 after prioritising the Scottish Open and then in 2020 in Galgorm due to Covid-19 related complications.
However, the four-time major winner was back for this year's tournament at Mount Juliet, ultimately finishing well down the field on two-under par after a frustrating weekend. He wound up 17 shots shy of the winner, Australia's Lucas Herbert.
"Yeah, of course, I'll try to play every Irish Open if it makes sense and suits what I'm going to do," McIlroy told Greg Allen on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
"There's been a couple - last year at Galgorm with Covid and the decision I made not to play in Lahinch, thinking I'm going to be playing in Ireland in a couple of weeks time, and wanted to play Scottish (Open) and that three in a row wasn't the right prep for it. In hindsight, that probably wasn't the right idea.
"I've played every one apart from that. I've no plans to make it a regular thing to skip them. I want to come back, I love playing in front of these crowds. I wish I gave them more to cheer about this week. But it's always nice to get back."
The Irish Open has been shunted around the schedule and was played in May during the opening years of McIlroy's hosting.
While it has lately settled in its current spot two weeks out from the Open Championship - save for the pandemic disrupted 2020 - McIlroy suggests that the week after the season's final major might be the best slot for it.
"Ultimately, that's up to the European Tour and where they see this event. I don't think it's the ideal date - but I don't know what the ideal date is.
"The Scottish Open is locked in before the Open (Championship) which is understandable. You look at first place (finish in Scotland) in world ranking points and it's close to 60. This week, it's 28.
"I actually wouldn't mind seeing it go back to the week after the Open like it was previously.
"And whether that encourages a few guys to stay over and play one more week. I was chatting to Shane (Lowry) about it yesterday. Being after the Open would be nice for us (Irish players) selfishly, because we could maybe relax a little more at it.
"Have the last major of the season done and out of the way. Whereas (now), our focus is obviously on here but always with one eye towards what's going to happen in a couple of weeks' time.
"In May, it worked when I was hosting and said I'd do favours for other players and they'd come over. Selfishly, I can't keep doing that every year.
"It should stay on the schedule, it should certainly be one of the strongest events in Europe because it's been on the schedule for so long."
The quest for a fifth major continues on the Kent coastline in a fortnight's time. McIlroy plays the Scottish Open next week before heading for Sandwich.
The 2014 winner is reasonably confident about his chances and encouraged by the fact that the driver - a troublesome club of late - won't be as central on the English links.
"I've probably reverted into bad habits. It rears its head with the longer clubs than the shorter clubs. I've got a little bit longer with the driver in the last couple of years and the more off-line it goes, the more into trouble it goes.
"I feel good with where my iron play is and my approach play but if I could just start to hit the ball off the fairway rather than just hacking it out of the rough the whole time, it'll get much better."
