Thursday 24 August 2017 11:22, UK
Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will play a maximum of five more events in 2017 before taking an extended break from the sport to recover from injury.
The world No 4 has been hampered by rib and back injuries throughout the year, missing a seven-week stretch after the SA Open and also withdrawing from the BMW PGA Championship and The Memorial during the middle of the campaign.
McIlroy hinted after a poor finish at the PGA Championship that he was "assessing his options" for the rest of his 2017 schedule, but has now finalised his plans for the remainder of the year.
The 29-year-old aims to play all four of FedExCup play-off events and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from October 5-8, before shutting down from competitive golf until 2018.
"I don't think I'm ever going to get a chance like this in my career again," McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "I get this opportunity to revaluate some things, to work on some stuff, and just try and improve and get better.
"I'm going to have to take a few weeks off before I can do any of that, but I feel like it's a tremendous opportunity to improve as a golfer and my health.
"I'm excited to play these next few weeks, but I've already sat down with my team and we already have a three-month plan going forward.
"All we'll be focusing on is getting me in the best possible shape with my body and my game going in to 2018."
McIlroy is 44th in the FedExCup standings and needs to move into the top 30 to secure a spot in the season-ending Tour Championship, which he won last year to claim the $10million bonus prize fund.
The four-time major champion is without a worldwide victory since his play-off triumph at East Lake last September, with McIlroy keen to avoid a winless 2017.
"I want to win at least once before the end of the year," McIlroy added. "I haven't not won a tournament since the 2008 season, which was my real rookie season on the European Tour.
"Even in 2013, when I struggled, I went down to Australia and I won and it made the end of the year feel pretty good.
"I'd like to have that feeling again before taking that time off at the end of this year and getting myself right for 2018."
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