'Get behind that': Rory McIlroy throws his support behind drastic PGA Tour schedule change

Rory McIlroy has thrown his support behind a proposed review of the PGA Tour schedule that could see a more condensed competition calendar in the future.

All eyes were on the Northern Irishman as he took to the green at the Royal Melbourne over the weekend, although his time at the Australian Open was not all he hoped for.

While he was not short of attention as he was followed by the gallery around the course, McIlroy could not find the rhythm to contest with other stars, including Australia's Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott, to remain in the race for the title.

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However, as he was making his way around the course, whispers about a drastic tour schedule change that could take place in the near future gained attraction online.

It is not the first time a competitive schedule change has emerged in recent weeks, but it may have come as a surprise to some to learn just how many tournaments could be cut.

The proposed change would see the competition season - including the four majors - reduced to 20 events between the months of February and August.

The move would look to not only benefit player recovery times between tournaments but also increase fan engagement across the board, despite most having sell out crowds.

"I think I understand what they're doing," McIlroy said of the move.

"They're trying to get their domestic model right before focusing internationally, and they obviously don't want to go up against football.

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

"If the Tour are really thinking about playing from February through to August, that leaves September through to January for (Australia), Europe and wherever else in the world to really be the shining light of golf for those five months.

"I think people could really get behind that. You sort of have the American swing with maybe the Scottish Open and The Open in the middle, but the rest of the big international stuff sort of in that September to January time frame, which I think works pretty well, especially for the southern hemisphere for tournaments like this."

The Australian Open would be among the many tournaments that could receive a major boost in interest if the schedule change were to unfold.

McIlroy, himself, noted that more big names stars would attend the event each year if there was not three other tournaments also scheduled in the same week.

"I've been excited to come back down here for a while, it's been over 10 years since I played in the Australian Open," McIlroy said prior to the event.

"This is a golf tournament that has got so much potential and I think it showed a little bit of that this week. There's still a ways to go.

"I would love to have a few more players come down and play, but it's hard. There's three tournaments going on in the schedule this week.

"There needs to be conversations had with people much more important than me that set the schedules and do all that sort of stuff.

"Hopefully the Australian Open can find a date that accommodates everyone and everyone can at least have the option to come down and play."