The Holywood star is a fan of new CEO Brian Rolapp and his vision for a slimmed-down PGA Tour featuring around 20 events running from the week after the Super Bowl to the end of August, leaving September to January for the rest of the world.

“NFL is king in the States, and it makes sense from an American point of view, but then I think it does let international and global golf shine for five months of the year,” McIlroy said.

Record crowds thronged Royal Melbourne to see McIlroy in action, and while the field was weaker than that assembled by Tiger Woods for the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the rockstar welcome that fans afforded the latest member of the career grand slam club spoke volumes about Australia's hunger for big-time golf.

“Obviously, it’s been over 10 years since I p

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