Rory McIlroy admits he has "probably played too many extra tournaments" this season, but he is determined not to repeat the mistake next year.

The world number one's defence of his Hong Kong Open title came to a shuddering halt on Friday as he missed the cut by three shots after four-putting the final green. It was the only the second time this year that he failed to make it past the halfway stage of a tournament.

The 23-year-old concedes it's been draining last few weeks, but he hopes to end on a high at the season-ending event in Dubai.

"Of course, you're going to miss cuts in your career but it's not nice and it's a tough pill to swallow when you're the defending champion in a tournament," he is quoted as saying by Associated Press.

"But while there's a part of me that perhaps wished my year had ended as soon as I wrapped up the Race to Dubai, I now look back over the last couple of years wondering why did I stretch myself so much.

"I've probably played an extra couple of tournaments too much and I have learnt from the last few years so that's why I'm cutting back my schedule even further from next year.

"But all I'm thinking about now is probably heading over to Dubai. My parents are over in Dubai at the moment and it will be nice to catch up with them as I haven't seen them since the Ryder Cup."

Including the Race to Dubai, McIlroy will have participated in 24 events this year while he has also played in two exhibition tournaments.

"I'm not sure if the energy in trying to sew-up the Race to Dubai and competing in the FedEx Cup has taken more out of me than maybe I thought because while I am feeling okay physically, mentally I feel really tired," he added.

"When you achieve something that you want to achieve so bad, like the Race to Dubai, there is a letdown considering there are still two events remaining."

Golf 365