McIlroy calls for golf major season to be stretched out

Rory McIlroy, a contender for his seventh major title, has voiced his opinion that golf's major championship season should be spread out over a longer period. The current schedule, which has seen the majors condensed into a four-month window since the PGA Championship moved to May seven years ago, is seen by McIlroy as detrimental to the sport's visibility.

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I'd like to see the major season spread out a little bit longer.

"I'd like to see the major season spread out a little bit longer," McIlroy stated. He acknowledged the enduring build-up for The Masters but felt the subsequent majors – the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship – follow too closely. "From a player perspective, if you get on a bit of a run, it's nice to be playing well and go from one straight into the next but for the sport as a whole and for, I guess, the general interest in the game, obviously I can see the positives in the major season being stretched out a little bit longer."

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From a player perspective, if you get on a bit of a run, it's nice to be playing well and go from one straight into the next but for the sport as a whole and for, I guess, the general interest in the game, obviously I can see the positives in the major season being stretched out a little bit longer.

McIlroy, who won his sole Open Championship 12 years ago, is competing this week at Royal Birkdale, a course he holds in high regard. While St Andrews remains his favorite Open rota venue, he believes Birkdale, where he finished tied for fourth in 2017, remains a suitable challenge even after its recent redesign.

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I've always liked this course.

"I've always liked this course," McIlroy said. "I first played here in the Amateur Championship and then played an Open back here in 2017 and did OK." He added that he believes Birkdale is a favorite among players, noting its reputation as a fair links course. "The fairways aren't overly undulating, so when you land the ball in the fairway here, it seems like it stays on the fairway and there's not a ton of blind shots."

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I think one of the common things you hear about Birkdale is it's very fair for a links golf course.