"We are in the process of sending a note to Rory and his management."

Steve Elling checks with the tour about Rory McIlroy's decision to not take his membership for 2011 and finds that Rory's plan of still playing 11 or 12 events is, well, not within the rules.

According to PGA Tour rules, if McIlroy drops his membership he will be limited to 10 appearances at sanctioned or co-sanctioned official U.S. events per season over the next five years, which includes the four majors and three official World Golf Championships events, said Andy Pazder, the PGA Tour's senior vice president of tournament administration.

Other non-members in good standing, for lack of a better term, can play in 12 PGA Tour events. McIlroy on Monday told reporters in the U.K. that he would cut back on his U.S. schedule after dropping his membership in 2011, but was apparently unaware that quitting carried certain restrictions.

"I will play 11 or 12 there next year and I will be happy with that," McIlroy said.
Not exactly.

"That would be erroneous," Pazder said. "We are in the process of sending a note to Rory and his management."

Elling also looks at the oversight of Lee Westwood playing more this year than the rules allowed for.