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Golf star Rory McIlroy
trans-atlantic

Rory McIlroy has considered quitting hectic European tour

And he will consider it again whenever he starts a family.

RORY MCILROY ADMITS that his hectic schedule has previously made him contemplate quitting the European Tour.

The issue over the minimum number of events players must compete in on the European Tour has come to the fore in recent weeks after Paul Casey said he may not rejoin the circuit next year.

Casey opted to give up his card in 2015 and the Englishman says the reduction in travel has been the catalyst for an improvement in form that has seen him climb back into the the world’s top 25 after being as low as 100 in April 2014.

Should Casey decide not to play the European Tour it would leave him ineligible to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup under the current criteria.

Four-time major winner McIlroy – who had his schedule analysed by sponsor Santander - says he has sympathy with Casey and that he has also thought about focusing solely on the PGA Tour.

“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,” he told The Telegraph.

“They’ll have to, if I’m going to have a family and a home life and all that. But that’s what being a global player and playing two tours entails

“Paul has a young family, his life is in America, in Arizona, and I would have no problem at all with whatever decision he makes.

“It would obviously make our Ryder Cup weaker, especially when he’s in this sort of form. But if Paul says the Ryder Cup doesn’t mean as much to him as his family, then more clout to him.

“A few years down the line, if I had a family in the States, I’d have to strongly consider it, too. To be honest, there have been times when I have contemplated not playing on the European Tour, already.”

However, world number three McIlroy - who missed a month of action earlier this year due to ruptured ankle ligaments – says that he owes the European Tour too much to hand in his card.

He added: “I do know that if I said, ‘look I don’t want to play the European Tour, or at least not be a member any more’, then the Ryder Cup rules would change.

“I understand that and it might help out a few of the other guys over there. But I don’t want to put the European Tour in that sort of position, because I owe a great deal to them.

“They gave me playing opportunities at the start of my career and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

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