Rory's Done With Kickabouts, Global Travel Days Soon Too

Rory McIlroy appears to have talked to several outlets as part of some sort of pre-Race To Dubai wrap and you'll just be shocked to smithereens to learn that the days of traveling the globe (standing in the Hall of Fame!) are not long in his world.

From James Corrigan's story for The Telegraph, which has McIlroy pledging no more in-season kickabouts (mitzvah!) and at some point soon, spending more time at home. Wherever that is.

On his forays into casual football.

“Looking back, I can see the opportunities I missed because of the injury,” McIlroy said. “Listen, I’m in a fortunate position to have the chance to win trophies many others can only dream about and yes, I will make sure I’ll be a little more careful in the future. I will not be playing football during the golf season again. It’s a shame, as I enjoy playing with my friends, but I’ll limit it to the off-season. We always have our Boxing Day game and there’s no way I’m missing that. That’s our FA Cup final. And in that sense it is important to carry on living my life.”

And in the world travel division, some tour is going to see a lot less of Rory very soon.

“Look at it, some of it is amazing,” he said. “The travel - wow! I’m in an airplane for more than a fortnight a year; have been in 118 different airports in 12 months. I’ve spent 287 nights in a hotel. What does that leave? less than 80 nights in my own bed, whether it’s the one in Northern Ireland or Florida. I guess at the minute, I don't really have a home.

“I’m not moaning, because I know how lucky I am. And you don’t notice it when you're doing it. But then when you're shown it in black and white, you take a step back and think ‘blimey’. I can definitely see a time in the not so distant future when those numbers will reduce. They’ll have to, if I’m going to have a family and a home life an all that. But that’s what being a global player and playing two tours entails.”

He also suggested he thought about quitting the European Tour, but those comments were less eye-opening than the above.

Phil Casey also has McIlroy justifying his special exemption into the Race To Dubai playoffs despite not qualifying while he was out channeling his inner-David Beckham.

“We had to be careful, especially because I’m included in the Race to Dubai now, so number 61 doesn’t get in, number 111 doesn’t get his card... so it was a tough decision for them (European Tour) to make.

“For me it’s more about the 111th guy, who loses his card. That’s the big thing. What do I do? Send him a bit of a Christmas present? It’s a hard one. I can’t really think of that.

“If I was to look at it really selfishly the 111th guy could have made one more putt or cut to get his card. I just have to think about myself and take a bit of a selfish view of it, I’m afraid."

“But at the end of the day it’s not about the bonus pool, I want to win the Race to Dubai. If I can win the Race to Dubai playing 12 events... at least give me the opportunity. I would have played more if I could.

Yep, but at least you're honest about it.

In this opening-up session, McIlroy also revealed that the PGA Tour lowered his fine for hurling a club into the 8th hole pond at Trump National Doral earlier this year. Stephen Hennessey highlights this admission which ought to raise a few eyebrows on the PGA Tour.

In an interview with ESPN, Rory McIlroy revealed that the tour cut the Northern Irishman some slack after being fined by the PGA Tour for tossing his 3-iron into the water at Doral in March. Actually, the tour saved him $20,000.

His quote: "The fine was reduced from $25,000 to $5,000 because I said I was sorry in the TV interview afterward."