Rory McIlroy keen to assess where his game is during FedEx St Jude Championship

Rory McIlroy hopes to be able to see “where my game is” when he returns to action at the FedEx St Jude Championship, aiming to deliver a strong finish to the season.

The successful defence of his Masters title in April has been followed by a run of disappointing results, which saw McIlroy seventh at the US PGA before placing joint 32nd at the US Open and then tied for 40th at The Open at Royal Birkdale.

The Northern Irishman, currently 12th in the FedExCup standings, skipped the St Jude Championship last year, but feels given his current situation the trip to Memphis – where he will play in a marquee pairing alongside Scottie Scheffler – will prove time well spent back out on the course.

“I think having four weeks off going into the last two events of the year was probably going to be a little too much for me in terms of wanting to be competitive,” McIlroy said at a press conference.

“So this is a good week – obviously I want to play well, but it’s also a good week to just see where my game is, do a lot of practice, or as much as I can in the heat.

“I think it is important to be here. It’s the PGA Tour’s play-offs, and I think it’s important for all the players to be here.”

McIlroy is also set to play at the Irish Open next month, as well as the BMW Championship at Wentworth and the DP World India Championship before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Before that, though, the world number two remains fully focussed on the challenges ahead in the United States.

“I almost try to view the (FedExCup) play-offs as one big, long tournament, like a 12-round event. You have got to pace yourself. It is three long weeks,” he said.

“We are going from here to St Louis (BMW Championship) to