European Tour offer Rory McIlroy ‘concession’

The worth of World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is abundantly clear, with the European Tour now following the PGA Tour in showing the four-time Major winner the green light to contest the season-ending Final Four Series despite not being able to contest the mandatory number of events.

Last week, the PGA Tour extended McIlroy a ‘concession’ to compete in the remaining three FedEx Cup Play-Off Series events given he will have only contested 13 of the 15 events required. Of course, McIlroy was out injured for some six weeks and missed the defence of his Open Championship and WGC — Bridgestone Invitational titles.

And despite McIlroy not seeking a ‘minor’ medical exemption as he would have been entitled, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem approved him to contest the remaining three Play-Off Series events commencing with today’s starting Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.

New European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has also waived their mandatory 13-tournament rule to allow McIlroy to be automatically eligible to compete in The Final Series . In fact, McIlroy has only played nine European Tour counting events but in discussion with Pelley, McIlroy has agreed to add a further three European Tour events, thereby bringing the number to 12, still one less to retain European Tour membership.

It is unsure what the tournament may be as McIlroy mentioned at the recent PGA Championship he was expecting to contest only the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the DP World Tour Championship.

In between, there is a further seven events, including the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, though he confirmed he will not play this year.