Rory McIlroy has had a stellar 2026 by any reasonable standard, with his only win coming in the defence of the Masters title he won to take the Career Grand Slam.

He became only the fourth man in history to do so at Augusta National. Yet, despite that career-defining triumph, the Northern Irishman’s relationship with the PGA Tour itself is becoming increasingly complicated.

McIlroy has made no secret of wanting to play golf on his own terms these days, picking and choosing his tournaments rather than following the tour’s hefty schedule.

Many would argue that someone so successful, both competitively and financially, has the right to choose when they turn up. The trouble is, the PGA Tour has rules about minimum appearances, and McIlroy is dangerously close to breaking one of them.

Why Rory McIlroy Could Lose His PGA Tour Card

Tour regulations require members to play at least 15 official events each season to retain their card. Back in 1986, the late Seve Ballesteros was banned for an entire season whilst he was world number one, after playing just nine events the previous year, having ironically lobbied to raise the threshold himself in 1984.

McIlroy’s schedule has shrunk significantly, dropping from 19 events in 2024 to 16 in 2025, and just nine so far this year.

The Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Birkdale will push that to 11, but with no plans to enter the 3M Open, the Wyndham Championship, or any FedExCup Fall events, even a clean sweep of the three playoff tournaments would only take him to 14. That leaves him one short and, therefore, risking a ban.

Will The PGA Tour Actually Punish Rory McIlroy?

Realistically, a Ballesteros-style ban feels almost unthinkable in 2026. Golf has never been more global, and McIlroy remains its most marketable face, someone the Tour simply can’t afford to put on the shelf for a year.

There’s likely to be some quiet negotiations behind closed doors, possibly even a tweak to the rules themselves, rather than any genuine sanction. That won’t be confirmed for a while, but McIlroy has seemingly earned enough goodwill, and silverware, to dictate his own terms, even if the rulebook says otherwise.

Arsenal are active in the race to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand this summer, with an update emerging from A Bola on his future.

It has been a relatively quiet start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, with it being clear that they only need to add a couple of players of real quality to improve a top team who are already Premier League champions and were a penalty shootout away from winning the Champions League.

While the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United have already made signings 10 days after the window officially opened, the Gunners are yet to complete their first new signing.

Piero Hincapie has completed his move to the Emirates on a permanent deal, but he was with the club already last season.

Arsenal have been in talks to sign 16-year-old Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga, but they are yet to agree a fee with the League One outfit for the teenager’s services.

The Gunners are also expected to make an official move soon for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who is currently representing England at the 2026 World Cup.

As well as the wings, it seems as though Arsenal are considering signing another central midfielder too.

Arsenal ‘Active’ in Morten Hjulmand Pursuit

via Reuters

According to A Bola, the pathway for Hjulmand to make a move to the Premier League season is ‘active’, with his chances of returning to Serie A narrowing because of the price involved for a transfer.

There had been links with a move to AC Milan for the Denmark international following the appointment of his former boss Ruben Amorim at the San Siro, but the Serie A giants are currently prioritising other positions.

Juventus have also pulled out of the race, leaving Inter Milan and Napoli as the only clubs who would be able to afford the 27-year-old, who has an €80m (£70m) release clause.

However, Arsenal are considering a move for the ‘absolute monster’ midfielder, while Manchester City and their sporting director Hugo Viana, who used to be at the Portuguese outfit, are big fans of the player.

Hjulmand Wants to Join Arsenal

via Reuters

A Bola state that Hjulmand would fulfill a ‘childhood dream’ by playing for Arsenal, and it would be no surprise if they are his number one pick given where the club is right now too.

Not only would the 27-year-old significantly strengthen Arsenal’s central midfield depth given his stature and quality, but he is also known for his leadership skills as he currently captains Sporting.

Arteta is renowned for wanting the right type of character when he is making signings, and the Dane is a player who would seemingly give everything in an Arsenal shirt.

The Gunners may be able to land Hjulmand for a fee lower than his release clause too, with Sporting said to be ready to sell him for a fee of between €40-50m thanks to a personal pact made between the parties last summer.

Manchester City have now made contact to sign a player who’s already agreed to join Arsenal this summer.

While their Premier League rivals have sprung into action, it has been a quieter start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal and City.

City are still yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad, but they have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to complete a mega agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, Arsenal probably only need to make some tweaks to their squad after such a successful season, but Mikel Arteta will be looking to add players to his squad that can take them to yet another level next term as they look to defend their Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.

The Gunners look set to add numbers to their attack this summer, with the north Londoners being linked with moves for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez in recent weeks.

Arsenal are also working to find an agreement with Leicester City to sign 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, but it is unclear whether he would be competing in the first-team yet or not if a deal went through.

The Gunners have also been looking at midfield additions for Arteta.

Man City Make Manu Kone Enquiry

via Reuters

According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, posting on X on Thursday evening, Manchester City have now made over signing French midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma.

Even though are now closing in on an agreement to sign England star Anderson, it is being widely reported that they want another central midfielder too, with Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United another name mentioned.

Arsenal themselves are looking to reinforce that position with a lack of quality in depth shown last season when they lost players to injury, with Kone emerging as a target.

Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested that the Gunners were closing in on a deal to sign the 25-year-old with personal terms already agreed for him to move to the Emirates.

Which Other Midfielders Are Arsenal Targeting?

via Reuters

Kone isn’t the only name reportedly on Arsenal’s central midfield radar this summer, with Alex Scott of Bournemouth someone they like a lot.

GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed the Gunners’ interest in the £80m-rated England international, who the Cherries are desperate to tie down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2028.

Reports in Portugal claim that they are also considering making a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, whose boyhood dream was to play for Arsenal.

Whether the Gunners firm up their reported interest in Kone or not, Arteta and Andrea Berta certainly seem to have other names on their shortlist should Man City swoop in and bring him to the Premier League themselves.