Rory McIlroy has outlined the potential benefits if the Genesis Invitational was moved to a later date in the calendar. The Northern Irishman is amongst 72 competitors at the PGA Tour's latest stop at Riviera Country Club in California.

McIlroy is competing in the Genesis Invitational, hosted by golfing icon Tiger Woods, which boasts a total prize fund of $20million (£14.9m) with $4million (£3m) going to the champion. The five-time major winner arrives following a tied-14th finish at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on 17-under par, five shots adrift of winner Collin Morikawa.

The Genesis Invitational has returned to its usual venue at Riviera Country Club having been relocated last year because of fires across the Los Angeles region. With Woods hosting the event, the 15-time major winner suggested this week that the competition could be rescheduled to August, aligning with the PGA Tour's play-off window.

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“We're looking at things like that, looking to go to bigger markets later in the year for the playoffs. Just trying to make our competitive model better, and how do we do that?” Woods said.

The five-time Masters champion was also quizzed about the possibility of moving the tournament to August, after Woods said that it is “certainly is on the table.” McIlroy has since been asked about Woods' remarks and explained why moving the Genesis Invitational to August could be advantageous.

"This week it doesn't matter if you hit it in the fairway or not," McIlroy told reporters this week. "It's actually a benefit sometimes if you do hit it in the rough because the ball's not going to come spinning back on you.

He added: "So if you do get it in August where the greens are firm, there's more of a consideration of strategy off the tee especially, and it starts to make the guys think a little bit.

“It certainly becomes a much more strategic golf course in that way. But even if you moved it a little bit later in the year there just to have the opportunity to have better weather and firmer conditions, that would be a good thing."

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