Rory McIlroy files for European Tour membership at last minute!

Rory McIlroy's team filed for European Tour membership before the May 1 deadline, it has been revealed by the Daily Express.

According to multiple sources, because the Northern Irishman waited to re-up, co-sanctioned events like the WGCs, along with The Masters, will not factor into his European Tour Race to Dubai points.

McIlroy, who turned 30 last week, is now in a race against time to adhere to the minimum amount of four European Tour events outside the majors and WGCs to fulfil his membership. 

The European Tour is sceptical McIlroy will tee up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch in July, but he is reportedly expected to compete at the Scottish Open in North Berwick a week before The Open at Royal Portrush. 

The four-time major champion is also expected to make a return to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth at its next date of September, as well as the European Masters and DP World Tour Championship at the end of the year. 

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At the start of the year, McIlroy claimed he was going to do what was right for him and base himself in the United States for the majority of the season to get the most out of his game on the PGA Tour - something he has been vindicated of doing so far with a victory and eight top-10 finishes in 10 events this season.

McIlroy would have risked his eligibility to make the European Ryder Cup team in 2020, as too his hopes of one day becoming a European Ryder Cup captain should he have bypassed European Tour membership - although a number of insiders believe the Tour would have made exceptions for him. 

European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington this week agreed to cut the number of European wildcards to three instead of four. 

McIlroy will tee up in next week's US PGA Championship, a tournament he has won twice before in 2012 and 2014.