Rory McIlroy: Hints At Reduced Schedule

Update: McIlroy says he'll cut back on the number of tournaments he plays in 2013, PGA.com reports.

Recommendation: McIlroy hasn't laid out a specific schedule yet, but he plans on reducing his U.S. Tour stops so he can be better rested for the important ones. He's said the St. Jude Classic is likely out since he's missed the last three cuts ahead of the U.S. Open. McIlroy also indicated that the Match Play Championship, the Honda Classic, Doral and the Shell Houston Open are in his plans, plus from there we can assume most of the bigger events will also be in play. The bottom line that since he spends time on both tours and has more and more obligations as the game's top player, he'll probably see a reduction in the 16 Tour stops he made last season. That said, he earned over $8 million in those stops and was still the Money List leader by almost $2 million, well above other star players who had heavier schedules. That likely makes him top dog in your 2013 draft or auction, but Tuesday's news may also give you a little cause to let him go if someone else gets too a! ggressive in the bidding.