Rory McIlroy didn’t leave the Genesis Scottish Open with the trophy in hand, but what he did walk away with might just be more valuable than silverware.
The guy came into The Renaissance Club not having played since the Travelers Championship, with questions swirling about his motivation and recent form. And after four days by the Firth of Forth? Consider those questions answered.
Although Chris Gotterup stole the show Sunday with a blistering 66, McIlroy’s 68 wasn’t far off. He was in the mix all the way down the back nine, trailing Gotterup by just a single stroke at one point.
But when the wind picked up and the greens turned into glassy minefields, McIlroy couldn’t summon the birdie barrage needed to close the gap. Nine straight pars on the back nine. Solid, yes. Electrifying? Not quite.
McIlroy is Recharged and Ready for Royal Portrush
Here’s the thing: McIlroy didn’t fly to Scotland just to pad his trophy case. He came to get right. After what he called a motivational dip following his monumental Masters win — completing the career Grand Slam, no less — he’d been grinding without results. From Quail Hollow to Oakmont, the spark just wasn’t there. And his superpower? That otherworldly driver? Looked, well, human.
But this week? That fire returned. Some time off at his new digs in London seems to have done wonders. He showed up sharp, energized, and laser-focused on getting his game ready for next week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush — a course 60 miles from where he grew up, where he once torched the place with a 61 as a teenager. The goal in Scotland? Shake off the rust and get back to pre-Masters form.
Mission accomplished. McIlroy said it himself: “Pretty much there.” That’s no small statement heading into a major.
Progress, Not Perfection — And That’s Okay
From round one to round four, it was steady gains across the board. Struggled with pace and the wind early on? Dialed them in as the week wore on. By Sunday, he was fifth in putting and gaining strokes tee-to-green in his final three rounds. That’s the kind of trajectory you want heading into the oldest major in golf.
Sure, he couldn’t catch Gotterup in the gusts, and yes, the trophy went home with someone else. But McIlroy saw what he needed to see: control, confidence, and clutch ball striking. “The iron play was great,” he said. “I feel like I did enough good things off the tee… Everything is in a really good spot.”
Make no mistake, Rory McIlroy knows better than anyone that form alone doesn’t guarantee a happy ending at Royal Portrush. Flashback to 2019 — top 10 at the U.S. Open, wins in Canada, and still missed the cut at The Open on his home turf. He’s not letting the déjà vu set in.
This time, he’s swinging well and wants it. “Missing the trophy, that’s about it,” McIlroy said after his round.
