Has his 2012 season brought too much of a good thing -- O.K., a great, occasionally transcendent thing -- for Rory McIlroy?
With obligations piling up throughout his would-be offseason, he seems to think so. McIlroy told ESPN UK on Monday that he was "ready to be done" with this year, despite having a handful of tournaments left to play, including the four parts of the Race to Dubai that ends the European Tour's season, and a heads-up exhibition match against Tiger Woods in China at the end of October.
So far, McIlroy has played 21 tournaments in 2012, not including the Ryder Cup. By the time the year is wrapped, he'll probably be up to 26 -- an event every other week. Don't expect as many Rory sightings in 2013:
"I would just love to cut my schedule back even further and I think next year I will cut it down again to a max play of 22 or 23," McIlroy continued."I still have got some big events left and I would love to win the Race to Dubai and repeat what Luke did also winning the money list on the PGA Tour, so I am going to give it one last push."It has been a great season and I am ready to be done. It is just such a long season these days. But then I feel I have got an obligation to play some of these big events leading up to Dubai."
McIlroy did add that he "won't find it hard" to motivate himself to play the year out, especially since a strong finish would likely place him atop both the American and European money lists. If he does it, McIlroy would match Luke Donald, who accomplished the same feat in 2011.
