FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – European Tour officials exhaled last week when Rory McIlroy retained his membership on the circuit at the deadline.
McIlroy had suggested he wouldn’t take up his membership in 2019, pointing out that it was a non-Ryder Cup year. But the issue was complicated by a rule that demands future European Ryder Cup captains be tour members throughout their careers.
The Northern Irishman’s decision to keep his membership was particularly good news for 2020 European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington.
“It is nice that he has taken membership to put it down on paper and make things a little simpler and less complicated,” Harrington said.