McIlroy says he entered FedEx Cup playoffs in part due to 'outside expectation'

Rory McIlroy confirmed Friday what many in the golf world believed.

After wrapping up the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in August, McIlroy hinted he may shut his season down in order to properly rehab a rib injury that's plagued him all year. The Northern Irishman elected play in the playoffs instead and defend his FedEx Cup title, but stated Friday the choice to enter the playoff series wasn't completely his.

"Some decisions aren’t completely up to the individual," McIlroy told Will Gray of the Golf Channel. "There was outside expectation from elsewhere. I played these events for two reasons: thinking that I still had a chance, but for trying to fulfill obligations elsewhere. So there was two parts of it."

McIlroy's season will likely come to an end Sunday evening at Conway Farms Golf Club, but that doesn't mean he's simply going through the motions with 36 holes to play.

"It’s hard because I know that realistically there’s not much chance of getting in next week, but I still want to go out there and play well," added McIlroy. "I’m here, so I might as well try to play well and try to get the most out of myself."

The 28-year-old has carded rounds of 72-69, and is projected to finish 57th in the FedEx Cup standings.