Rory McIlroy is eager to ‘cut back’ his season moving forward following a gruelling schedule this year.

McIlroy will have played in 27 tournaments by the end of the year, including all four majors, the Olympics, the PGA Tour play-offs and the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour.

While major glory as eluded him yet again this year, McIlroy has still enjoyed a good season.

He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January before winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship in quick succession in the spring.

But his season has trailed off following his heart-breaking collapse at the US Open in June, missing the cut at The Open at Royal Troon and finishing a lowly ninth in the Fedex Cup standings.

The 35-year-old Northern Irishman is now keen to reevaluate his schedule and trim down his commitments next season.

Asked how many event is too many in one year, McIlroy replied: “27.

“I’m usually sort of like a 22 sort of person. But again, that was when I was sort of in my 20s and didn’t have the responsibilities that I do now.

“I’m going to try to cut it back to like 18 or 20 a year going forward, I think.

“It’s been a long season, and I’m going to just have to think about trying to build in a few extra breaks here and there next year and going forward.

“I felt like I hit a bit of a wall sort of post-US Open, and still feel a little bit of that hangover.”

McIlroy will be playing at the Irish Open, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and the Alfred Dunhill Links this autumn before heading back to the UAE in November for the season-ending events on the DP World Tour.

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He added: “My season is not over, obviously. I’ve still got five events left to play.

“But yeah, it’s been, I feel like the tournaments came thick and fast, and obviously with the Olympics thrown in there as well this year, it sort of condensed everything a bit.”

McIlroy’s comments have raised eyebrows from golf fans, who have been quick to make jokes about LIV Golf’s shortened season.

While McIlroy has always been against joining LIV, their schedule of 14 events plus the four majors does align with what he’d rather to commit to.

One fan said: “Rory McIlroy says he wants to cut his schedule down to playing. 18 or 20 a year going forward, LIV schedule is 14 events, plus all 4 majors. Just saying….”

Another fan added: “Rory McIlroy’s 18-20 events in 2025 – all 14 LIV Golf League events, the 4 Major Championships, Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, Genesis Scottish Open, looks about right to me.”

And another said: “It be a huge boom! Besides, team golf would give Rory a boost of confidence and he may even win a Major come 2025.”

There’s no suggestion McIlroy will be considering his future during the off-season but PGA Tour fans may have to settle for seeing less of the four-time major winner next term.