Rory McIlroy's Hectic 2018 Schedule

The four-time major winner has earmarked seven events to play before the Masters, and that's without the two WGCs...By Sam Tremlett

Rory McIlroy's Hectic 2018 Schedule

Rory McIlroy, it has recently been announced, has decided to play A LOT of golf before the Masters kicks off in April.

Coming back from an injury-plagued and disappointing 2017 season, the Northern Irishman has put his name forward for several big tournaments to try and hone his game for the season's first major at Augusta - where he'll be hoping to complete the career grand slam.

Considering he hasn't won one since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, this busy schedule might not be a bad move.

Players like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson are on top of the golfing world right now and McIlroy needs to be at his very best to beat all of them, so playing more golf may not be a bad thing.

Rory is currently residing in his three-month break from tournament golf, in which he has been recovering from the troublesome rib injury, and working on his game.

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McIlroy's return will come at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on 18th January, with 2017 champion, and Race to Dubai winner, Tommy Fleetwood likely to defend that title.

He will then play at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic the following week to round off the desert swing.

After a week off he will then fly to California to play in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, followed by the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club

He then heads to Florida to play in the Honda Classic, a tournament he has had one victory and two runners up places in.

His final commitments at the moment are the Valspar Championship, and Arnold Palmer Invitational in mid-March.

However, if he decides to commit to play in the WGC-Mexico Championship and WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay then he would have played nine tournaments in 10 weeks. It would be hard to see him not playing in both WGCs.

When will Tiger Woods tee it up next?

Irrespective on whether you are coming back from injury, that is a lot of competitive golf, and considering his ability, he should come out of these tournaments with a win or two.

McIlroy's confirmed early 2018 schedule:

Jan 18: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Jan 25: Dubai Desert Classic Feb 8: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Feb 15: Genesis Open Feb 22: Honda Classic March 1: WGC-Mexico Championship? March 8: Valspar Championship March 15: Arnold Palmer Invitational March 22: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play? April 5: The Masters

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