Rory McIlroy has spent much of the last seven weeks back in Europe, using the time away from tournament play to rest and prepare for the back-to-back links golf events that kick off Thursday at the Scottish Open.
The break was far from uneventful. McIlroy showed up at Wimbledon’s Royal Box wearing his Masters champion green jacket, seated alongside Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. He also made a quiet visit to Royal Birkdale — the site of next week’s Open Championship — for a reconnaissance round, though the trip didn’t stay quiet for long.
“Birkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open for sure. I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there but (Nick) Faldo couldn’t put his phone away, so,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “I love Nick. In fairness, he’s great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.”
McIlroy says his relationship with the Scottish Open venue — Renaissance Club in North Berwick — has warmed considerably over time. His comfort level there is no surprise given that in 2023, he swept the Scottish title and followed it up with a victory at the Open Championship.
He arrived Monday and settled into the same house he has stayed in for several years, with golfer Tommy Fleetwood and his family living right next door, as he shifted back into competition mode after his holiday.
“When I first came here, I wasn’t enamored with the course or the place. But as time has went on and I’ve played it more, I’ve started to like it more and appreciate the golf course a little bit more,” McIlroy said. “It’s definitely become a great venue for this tournament.”
The field this week is stacked with elite talent. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy at No. 2, No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick of England, and No. 5 Russell Henley headline the star power in Scotland. World No. 3 Cameron Young — who has played the Scottish Open just once before, missing the cut in 2022 — and No. 6 Collin Morikawa are among the few top-ranked players sitting out. In 2025, Morikawa missed the cut after posting rounds of 68 and 76, finishing 123rd at 4-over par.
Thursday’s opening round is expected to bring mild conditions — around 71 degrees with no rain — a far cry from the typically harsh Open Championship weather.
McIlroy will tee off alongside Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who claimed the Scottish Open title in 2024, and 2025 champion Chris Gotterup. Last July, Gotterup edged out McIlroy, who tied for second with Marco Penge at 13-under par. The three past champions are scheduled to go off around 3:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, starting on the 10th hole, one group behind Shane Lowry — a fan favorite who spent time last week on a four-day trip with McIlroy and Donald.
By the time Spain’s Jon Rahm reaches the course, that group should already be finishing up. Rahm, ranked No. 11 in the world and a two-time major champion, is making his first Scottish Open appearance since 2022. He is one of seven LIV Golf players in this week’s field — a subject McIlroy has addressed openly in recent years.
“I’ve talked about wanting to have just all of the best players in the world play together,” McIlroy said Wednesday. “Yeah, I guess this is a good — and it’s not as if this hasn’t been open to them before. It’s just because Valderrama (on the LIV Golf circuit) was always this week. Having Jon in this event is better for the event than him not being here, and obviously everyone else that’s here, as well. That’s a good thing.”
