2024 might just be Rory McIlroy‘s year! In 2024, he is aiming for his fifth major and first-ever Masters title. Donning the green jacket would be the next big thing for McIlroy after his successful defense at the Dubai Desert Classic. To achieve this high feat, the four-time major champion has planned a strategic schedule, which will help him play better at the Masters.

The past two finishes at Augusta for McIlroy were literally poles apart! In 2022, the Northern Irishman ended on T2, while in 2023, he missed the cut altogether. Will the 2024 Augusta showdown be different?

Rory McIlroy to play in a Tour event after five years

Rory McIlroy’s first opening on the PGA Tour’s 2024 schedule will be with next week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (second signature event). However, what comes as a shocking surprise in the golfer’s PGAT schedule is his reported presence at the Cognizant Classic (formerly known as the Honda Classic).

The NUCLR Golf tweeted that McIlroy has committed to playing the Cognizant Classic. This will be his first appearance at the event in the last five years on the PGA National Course in Palm Beach, the last being in 2018. He had previously won the event by two strokes over Tiger Woods and Tom Gills in 2012.

According to the plan shared by McIlroy in one of his podcast interviews, the 24-time PGAT winner will “play more” to make his game sharp. Speaking to Golf Digest, McIlroy also highlighted how the Masters had always been his “sixth or seventh” game of the year, but as per the following plan, it will be his “ninth or 10th event.”

Last year, the 34-year-old golfer missed the Valero Texas Open as it was just a week before the Masters. However, in the 2024 schedule, McIlroy has committed to playing the Texas Open. This year, the 16-time DP World Tour winner has already committed to the upcoming 17 events.

Rory McIlroy’s 2024 schedule until June

McIlroy started his 2024 season in Dubai. At the DP World Tour’s first event of 2024, the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy finished runner-up, losing it to Tommy Fleetwood. However, at the next event, the Dubai Desert Classic, he compensated for his missed victory.

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The 16-time DP World Tour winner clicked the Dubai Desert Classic title for the fourth time in his life as he defended it. The next will be AT&T, starting on February 1st. After the Pro-Am, he’ll play the Cognizant Classic and the Genesis Invitational.

In March, McIlroy will be preparing for two events (the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship), followed by the Valero Texas Open right before the Masters. Including the three more majors, McIlroy will play six more events. Two events after each major, one after the Open. The last event will be the Horizon Irish Open on the DP World Tour.

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With a hectic schedule and plan for the Masters, will Rory McIlroy finally put his Masters dream to rest? Only time will tell.