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Rory McIlroy suggests shrinking field sizes to improve pace of play ahead of AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Rory McIlroy has offered his solution to improve the pace of play; the 35-year-old will be aiming to secure career Grand Slam in 2025 at The Masters and win elusive fifth major; watch McIlroy feature in AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday

Image: Rory McIlroy will be in action at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links

Rory McIlroy has offered his solution to improve the pace of play by shrinking field sizes.

McIlroy will be making his first start on the PGA Tour this season as part of a star-studded field at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - live on Sky Sports Golf.

The Northern Irish star believes shrinking field sizes will contribute to improving the pace of play after the the final round groups at the American Express and Farmers Insurance Open took in the region of five-and-half hours to get round.

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As McIlroy hopes to win his first major title since the 2014 PGA Championship, take a look at the best bits from his final round back at Valhalla

"This isn't a new problem, this has been around forever, but slow play was also around when people seemingly loved golf. I don't know what the answer is," said McIlroy.

"There's a lot of different answers but not every answer is going to make everyone happy.

"I could say smaller fields. Smaller fields would help pace of play but that takes away playing opportunities from people and that's going to **** some people off.

"The other thing is, when we play in this time of the year, the tee times have to be a little bit tighter together so that they can get everyone through with daylight.

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"If you could be able to space the tee times out a little bit more, that would hopefully make things flow a little bit better."

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Watch McIlroy hit this monstrous drive through the green of the 356-yard par-four second hole at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

The four-time major champion was asked if he feels 2025 will be a pivotal season having come up empty-handed in the majors last year.

"Every year's a pivotal year," he said. "There's a couple of things this year that make it maybe a little more so for me.

"The Open goes back to Portrush so playing a major championship pretty much at home is a big thing.

Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour golf (Associated Press)
Image: Scottie Scheffler has 'made enough money to hire a chef' joked McIlroy

"Then playing an away Ryder Cup for me [at Bethpage Black], I've alluded to this a lot, but I feel like winning an away Ryder Cup is one of the toughest things to do in golf at the minute. Obviously the Europeans have an opportunity to do that, which would be really cool."

McIlroy also had some humorous advice for Scottie Scheffler ahead of the world No 1's return to action this week following surgery to remove glass fragments from his right hand after a December cooking accident.

"He made enough money to hire a chef. Why are you cooking yourself?" McIlroy quipped. "[I was] just concerned and hoped he was OK. It sounds like he is, it's good that he's teeing it up this week.

"Yeah, get a chef."

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Scottie Scheffler explains how he cut his hand with a wine glass whilst making ravioli, to which Rory McIlroy had a simple solution!

Where will McIlroy play in 2025? Likely PGA Tour and DP World Tour schedule and results

*Subject to change

  • January 16-19 - Hero Dubai Desert Classic - Result: Tied-fourth
  • January 30-February 2 - AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • February 13-16 - Genesis Invitational (Signature Event)
  • March 6-9 - Arnold Palmer Invitational (Signature Event)
  • March 13-16 - The Players
  • April 10-13 - The Masters
  • April 17-20 - RBC Heritage (Signature Event)
  • May 8-11 - Truist Championship (Signature Event)
  • May 15-18 - PGA Championship
  • May 29-June 1 - The Memorial (Signature Event)
  • June 5-8 - RBC Canadian Open
  • June 12-15 - US Open
  • June 19-22 - Travelers Championship (Signature Event)
  • July 10-13 - Genesis Scottish Open
  • July 17-20 - The Open
  • August 14-17 - BMW Championship
  • August 21-24 - Tour Championship
  • September 4-7 - Amgen Irish Open
  • September 11-14 - BMW PGA Championship
  • September 26-28 - Ryder Cup
  • November 6-9 - Abu Dhabi Championship
  • November 13-16 - DP World Tour Championship

Will 2025 be McIlroy's year for a major?

McIlroy's major drought extends into an 11th year, which would equal the biggest gap between major victories in men's golf, although there are courses on the 2025 schedule that will give him encouragement to end his winless streak.

He has seven career top-10s at The Masters, including a runner-up finish at Augusta National in 2022, while he is a four-time winner of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club - the venue for the 2025 PGA Championship.

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As McIlroy hopes to win his first major title since the 2014 PGA Championship, take a look at the best bits from his final round back at Valhalla

The Northern Irishman will head to Oakmont having ended no worse than ninth in each of his last six US Open appearances, before a return to Royal Portrush for The Open to play a course where he missed the cut in 2019 but previously held a course record as a teenager.

Watch the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and the best of women's golf live throughout 2025 on Sky Sports Golf. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.

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