“I don’t enjoy my success”: Rory McIlroy says he’s ‘stepping back’ from golf, sharing his future plan as an athlete

PGA: U.S. Open – Final Round
Rory McIlroy, 2024 US Open (Image via USA TODAY)
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The 2024 Scottish Open is underway at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scottland. The DP World Tour sanctioned event’s defending champion, Rory McIlroy, is tied for seventh place with a score of 12 under par through three rounds.

The 2024 US Open at the legendary Pinehurst Resort and Country Club No. 2 course saw McIlroy’s heartbreaking loss. The Northern-Irishman conceded to LIV Golf star, Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke. Following the second-place finish, he withdrew from the 2024 Travelers Championship to “build himself back up” from the loss.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Rory McIlroy revealed that he intends to “take a step back” from the sport. The 26-time PGA Tour winner ranks second on the Official World Golf Rankings and is not content with his accomplishments. McIlroy said:

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“I need to take a step back and appreciate what I’ve done in my career and in my life and enjoy my success. I don’t really enjoy my success – and I haven’t I would say for the last five. I haven’t been on a vacation in probably four or five years. So I think just stepping back and enjoying myself a little bit more away from my game is the thing. Have some fun. ”
Rory McIlroy has a grueling everyday routine comprised of a relentless gym routine coupled with intense range sessions. The Northern-Irishman said that he practically lives on the golf course and intends to spend time outside of the game to strengthen his mental health.

McIlroy said:

“I live on a golf course and it’s so easy to just go out there at 7pm and hit a few balls. So I think being able to just get away from it and give yourself that free headspace of not thinking about golf is a good thing. I’m committed to having more fun going forward. ”
Rory McIlroy’s 2024 PGA Tour season recap
Following an excellent season on the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy ranks second on the Official World Golf Rankings with 415.93104 points. He also ranks third on the FedEx Cup Rankings and the Comcast Business Tour rankings with 2,445 points each.

This season, McIlroy has played in 14 events on the PGA Tour and has made the cut in all. He has recorded 12 top-25 finishes, five top-ten finishes, one runner-up finish, and two victories. The PGA Tour star has earned a whopping $10,034,665 so far in 2024 and ranks third on the Official Money List.

Here’s a look into Rory McIlroy’s finishes on the PGA Tour so far this season:

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – T66
Genesis Invitational – T24
Cognizant Classic – T21
Arnold Palmer Invitational – T21
Players Championship – T19
Valero Texas Open – 3rd
The Masters – T22
RBC Heritage – T33
Zurich Classic of New Orleans – First place
Wells Fargo Championship – First place
PGA Championship – T12
RBC Canadian Open – T4
Memorial Tournament – T15
US Open – 2nd.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh