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Rory McIlroy is being allowed to take part in this year’s Race to Dubai Final Series, despite failing to take part in the minimum number of tournaments set out by the European Tour. The European Tour has announced that due to the exceptional circumstances caused by McIlroy’s injury and the impact this has had on his playing schedule, the world No.1 will be allowed remain in the final 2015 Race to Dubai rankings and be automatically eligible to compete in the Final Series, despite not meeting the minimum ’13 tournaments per season’ rule. McIlroy, who is currently leading the 2015 rankings, was poised to meet the minimum number of events rule until an accident ruled him out of a considerable part of the summer. The 26 year old Northern Irishman was playing football with friends in July when he went over on his left ankle, the resulting ligament damage causing him to miss his scheduled appearances in the Scottish Open, the Open Championship, and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. As a result McIlroy, who has so far played nine tournaments on the European Tour schedule, will not be able to compete in 13 tournaments, given his current global commitments and his recovery programme, which strictly limits the number of weeks in a row he can play. Therefore McIlroy has agreed with European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley that he will play a minimum of three more tournaments before the end of the year, bringing him to his revised minimum obligation of 12 events. Pelley said: “These are exceptional circumstances. I have spent the last two weeks examining every angle and every possible solution, and I have spoken with Rory and his team, as well as independent medical advisers and some prominent players. After reviewing all the medical reports and recommendations from doctors, while at the same time recognising that Rory is a world golfer with global commitments – I am convinced that he could not commit to any further tournament participation without risking further injury and persistent weakness to the ankle in the future. Therefore, after lengthy discussions, I have given him approval to play a minimum of 12 European Tour events this year.”
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