Rory is Raring to Go on the PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy has confirmed that he will be playing in all three PGA Tour events next month as it is revealed he is Britain’s second-wealthiest sportsman behind Lewis Hamilton.

There has been no professional golf in the USA since the Players Championship was cancelled on March 12, and the season will resume without fans at the Charles Schwab Colonial event in Texas on June 11, and the Northern Irishman will be there, following his appearance in the Driving Relief charity exhibition at Seminole on Sunday.

"I miss the competition," said McIlroy, who returned to world number one in February for the first time in five years. He also intends to play at the RBC Heritage and the Travelers Championship. "I miss the buzz of getting into contention and playing in those last few groups on a Sunday and really feeling that. I also miss the locker room. I miss people. I miss being around people. I miss the banter that goes on and the camaraderie that people don't see."

While McIlroy is based in the United States, players travelling from elsewhere will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival before being able to compete. Tommy Fleetwood says he will be staying in England, but Matthew Fitzpatrick has confirmed that he will be flying to the USA.

“The quarantine is currently in place," said PGA Tour administrator Andy Levinson. "It is likely to continue, and so it is imperative that those constituents that need to come back in the United States do so at least two weeks prior to our return to competition."

Fitzpatrick is currently waiting for a travel waiver to allow him to journey to the United States. But the 25-year-old from Sheffield, a five-time winner on the European Tour, faces complications regarding his regular caddie Billy Foster, who is likely to miss at least the first three tournaments when the PGA Tour season resumes.

With family at home in England, Foster would potentially face a two-week coronavirus quarantine at either end of every trip he makes to America.

"Obviously we're going to have to take as many precautions as possible to be able to put tour events on again," he added. "But the PGA Tour has got a robust plan in place, and if they can execute it the right way, I see no reason why we can't start on 11 June.” 

Meanwhile, F1 world champions has been named as Britain’s wealthiest sportsman in the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List. His wealth rose by £37m in a year, taking him to £224m, which makes him the wealthiest sportsman in the 32-year history of the list.

McIlroy - worth £170m - was the only other sports star in the main list of Britain's 1,000 richest people.

Sport dominated the Young Rich List with 18 of the 50 places. Boxer Anthony Joshua is the only non-footballer on the list, made up of those aged 30 or under. The 30-year-old is worth £107m with Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale - also 30 - the only sportsperson ahead of him.