Rory McIlroy Adds Yet Another Event To His Busy Pre-Masters Schedule

Rory McIlroy has added another tournament to his 2024 calendar by committing to play the Cognizant Classic in February

Rory McIlroy hits a bunker shot
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paul Higham
By Paul Higham
published

It seems Rory McIlroy will be getting plenty of rounds under his belt before he tries to finally win The Masters after committing to appear at the Cognizant Classic in February. 

The former Honda Classic will be held from 29 February to 3 March at PGA National in Palm Beaches Gardens in Florida.

After he recently committed to the Valero Texas Open the week before Augusta, it means McIlroy will now tee it up in eight tournaments in 2024 before heading down Magnolia Lane bidding to finally slip on that Green Jacket.

That's already a busy 2024 playing schedule for McIlroy in what is a huge year for the Northern Irishman as he looks to end his decade-long wait for a fifth Major.

“It’s always good to come back to a tournament where you’ve won and had success before, and even better when it’s a bit of a home game,” said McIlroy on the Cognizant Classic tournament website.

“PGA National is a great test of golf, and the fan support and incredible crowds make for an exciting atmosphere throughout the week for the players.”

McIlroy famously won the event, then the Honda Classic, back in 2012 when he held off a fast-finishing Tiger Woods to claim his third PGA Tour title and move to World No.1 for the first time in his career.

The 24-time PGA Tour winner will make his American debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am next week, after a sparkling start to the year in the Middle East.

McIlroy may have slipped up when finishing second to Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational, but followed up by successfully defending his Dubai Desert Classic title the week after.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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