Rory McIlroy shuts down reporter's question about retirement plans: "Absolutely not!"

Rory McIlroy says something will have gone 'terribly wrong' if you see him on the PGA Tour Champions at the age of 50. 

McIlroy opened up on his plans for retirement ahead of the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The 35-year-old - who also confirmed the worst-feared news about Tiger Woods - said he'll know it's time to quit once he's achieved everything he wants to in the game. 

You wouldn't be forgiven for thinking that those future goals are completing the career grand slam with a win at The Masters, victory in hostile territory in the Ryder Cup and an Olympic medal. 

"I'm very happy to move aside for the younger generation to come through," McIlroy said when asked by one scribe how he will come to grips with his career winding down. 

"I look at other sports, and I've had an unbelievable [career]. I turned pro in 2007. I'm 18 years into a career.

"Not a lot of athletes can say they've had an 18-year career, and I'm only 35.

"I can acknowledge how lucky golfers are to be able to do what they do for so long compared to other athletes, so whenever I feel like the time is right, I'll have no problem moving aside and letting the next generation do their thing."

Asked how he thinks he'll know it's time to put the clubs away for good, McIlroy was clear: "I think when I've achieved everything I want to achieve in the game and I get to the point where I don't think I can maybe do that anymore. 

"I'd also like to walk away with a little bit left in the tank. I don't want to be out there embarrassing myself. I'd like to walk away maybe a little before I should. Put it that way.

"There's always one more, but that's okay. I think if you can come to terms with that and walk away on your own terms, then that's a good thing."

The aforementioned Woods was understood to have harboured aspirations to play on the senior U.S. circuit. 

Jack Nicklaus previously claimed Woods would compete aided by a golf kart.

He will turn 50 in December but any hopes of seeing Woods compete against former rivals such as Vijay Singh have now been dashed. 

McIlroy has no such plans. 

"Absolutely not," he said when asked if he believes 'the fire will still burn burn' at 50. 

"I will not play Champions Tour golf. Look, I've said a lot of absolutes in my time that I've walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. 

"Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."

McIlroy is playing the first two rounds of the 2025 Players in a star-studded group. 

The Northern Irishman tees off at 1.29pm ET on Thursday alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.