Entertainment
Rory McIlroy refreshed ahead of Scottish Open after ‘hiding’ and ‘detaching’ from PGA Tour ‘grind’
Watch Rory McIlroy in action on Sky Sports at the Scottish Open from Thursday through to Sunday, and at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush the following weekend; watch the tournaments live this month on Sky Sports or stream with no contract
Rory McIlroy hopes going into hiding for a couple of weeks has helped him recharge as he prepares for the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.
Masters champion McIlroy has taken a break since finishing in a tie for sixth at the Travelers Championship last month, which saw a welcome upturn in form following a testing run since his Augusta triumph.
Having settled into a new family home in Wentworth, McIlroy feels being able to get away from the “grind” of the PGA Tour circuit has sharpened his focus on a strong run in North Berwick ahead of his challenge for another Open crown at Royal Portrush.
“The one thing I would say about the last couple of weeks is I felt like I could detach a little bit more and sort of hide in a way,” the world No 2 said at a press conference.
“Sometimes you need that to completely get away. I feel like this world of golf can become all encompassing if you let it.
“Justin Rose and I came up here together yesterday [Tuesday] and we were just chatting about how there is a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here, from when you play PGA Tour for that sort of first 25 to 30 weeks of the year.
“It has been lovely to get back and see some familiar faces, and is the first time back playing in the UK since what happened at Augusta, which is a really nice feeling as well.”
McIlroy, who won the Scottish Open in 2023 and then finished tied fourth last year, added: “I don’t think I started out too well here but I have learned how to play the course a little bit better.
“Obviously I had that great finish in 2023, then played well again last year, so I am looking forward to getting out there tomorrow [Thursday].”
Robert MacIntyre secured a memorable Scottish Open victory last year, winning on home soil by one stroke ahead of Adam Scott.
“I think the pressure is off, obviously with me saying how much I wanted [to win] this golf tournament,” said US Open runner-up MacIntyre, who was the first Scottish winner of the event in 25 years.
“But the expectation is not from me – from outside and the fans, the expectation is through the roof.
“I can’t control that, so I have just got to go out there [and] prepare as well as I can.”
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler will tee off on Thursday morning in a group alongside MacIntyre and Scott.
“If I wanted to just do preparation [for the Open] I would have gone and played some other golf courses for fun,” said Scheffler, who is on a run of nine consecutive top-10 finishes.
“Tournament golf is a little bit different – being here in the right conditions, in the wind, getting used to the time [difference] and stuff like that.
“This is an important tournament for me and is a tournament I want to play well in.”
As well as Ryder Cup qualification points being on the line for the likes of MacIntyre and England’s Tommy Fleetwood, the leading three players not already exempt to make the cut will qualify for The Open.
Entertainment
Djokovic learns fate in new home as Sabalenka addresses behaviour
Express Sport brings you the latest tennis news from the Paris Masters.
We’re reaching the business end of the Paris Masters, as eight players become four in the French capital. Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy after Carlos Alcaraz was dumped out by Cameron Norrie in the Spaniard’s opening match. Norrie was then beaten by Valentin Vacherot, whose amazing 10-match winning streak at Masters 1000 level came to an end when he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Canadian star Auger-Aliassime will face Alexander Bublik in the semis. Bublik defeated Alex de Minaur, who is among those to have already qualified for the year-end ATP Finals. Sinner is through to his first Paris Masters semi-final after beating Ben Shelton. He’ll face defending champion Alexander Zverev, who survived a tough match against Daniil Medvedev.
Novak Djokovic is not involved in the Paris Masters, having decided to skip the event for the second year in a row, but he has learned his fate in the draw of next week’s ATP 250 in Athens. And over in Riyadh, the WTA Finals are about to get underway.
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