Rory McIlroy begins his preparation for The Open at Birkdale next week by playing links golf at The Renaissance Club near North Berwick in the Genesis Scottish Open.
The outings follow a disappointing tie for 32nd at the US Open, the third Major of the season, when despite being in the top ten on the Saturday, he had a inward nine, dropping ten shots behind the leader and out of the frame. American Wyndham Clark edged countryman Sam Burns to take the title.
McIlroy, of course, returns to the East Lothian venue where beat Scottish hope, Robert MacIntyre, in 2023, and both events offer an opportunity to boost the Northern Irishman’s bid to win the Race to Dubai title. He has won it on seven previous occasions.
The $9m Scottish Open and The Open are favoured times of the year, and McIlroy, who won his second Masters in April at Augusta to become a six-time Major winner, is currently the world No 2.
He walks to the first hole at The Renaissance Club for an 8.28 tee-time on Thursday. MacIntyre is in the same pairing.
The “world-class” field at The Scottish Open includes Scottish Scheffler, the world’s top player currently, but there are a host of other leading players who will test their skill on the 7,282 yard, par-70 course (35 out, 35 in).
Other members of the world’s top ten are also here including English duo, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood, plus Major champions Justin Thomas and J J Spaun.
Five-time Major winner, Brooks Koepka, returns for the first time in 11 years and the field also includes current Race to Dubai pace-maker, Patrick Reed. He is seeking his second Rolex Series win of the season.
Leading players, including Jon Rahm, who last played the event four years ago, and Viktor Hovland have welcomed changes to the course layout and the fan-favourite, the par three sixth, now becomes the 15th, a proper stadium hole on the tough course near North Berwick.
Rajm and Hovland believe the changes will create a stern closing challenge, and McIlroy declared that The Renaissance was a “perfect” venue for the prestige event.
The 37-year-old from Hollywood, Northern Ireland, noted that the rough was a little more penal at The Renaissance than on his previous visits but, otherwise, the course “is pretty much the same”.
He remarked that It is always good to come “home” and he is excited by the prospects in the next two weeks.
McIlroy was asked about the newly-announced collaboration between First Tee and The Stephen Gallacher Foundation which was onfirmed during a press conference at The Renaissance on Tuesday and he recalled that he had been helped when he was a young player.
The Ryder Cup star commented that golf courses in this part of the world are more accessible than in other areas of the planet, a real boost to those who aspire to play the game.
