Confusion over McIlroy tour exit

THERE is some confusion resulting from Rory McIlroy’s decision to quit the US Tour.

In announcing a move not to take-up 2011 Tour membership and also not to play the mandatory 15 tournaments, McIlroy indicated he was still confident of playing 11 or 12 events a season across the Atlantic. That would include the four Majors, the three US Tour-based WGCs and four to five other regular Tour events including the defence of his Wells Fargo Championship.

But according to the US Tour’s Andy Pazder, who is the Tour’s senior vice-president of tournament administration, McIlroy will be limited to 10 appearances per season over the next five years.

Padzer indicated also that he would write to McIlroy and his ISM management team outlining the requirements. However McIlroy’s manager Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, is adamant there is no such stipulation.

He said: “We spoke with the Tour official during the Barclays Championship and I was under the impression that if you resigned from the Tour you could still play 12 events. I’ve read what Andy Pazder has said, and I will wait to see the letter he’s sent us. But I don’t see it as an issue for Rory.”