Rory McIlroy has said that he is enjoying seeing his family more often by playing less golf on the PGA Tour, while he also suggested that the quieter schedule helps with his enjoyment of the game.
The 2026 season has been like no other for McIlroy. The Northern Irishman decided to not play any tournaments in the weeks immediately leading into The Masters. Instead, the 37-year-old decided that he was better off preparing at Augusta National itself.
Who can stop Rory McIlroy from winning this week?
Rory is on fire in Scotland 🔥
Obviously, the strategy paid off. McIlroy won The Masters for a second time this year. With that, he is making only his third start outside of the majors since retaining the Green Jacket in April.
Rory McIlroy suggests the pros and cons to playing a limited schedule
He is off to a brilliant start at the Scottish Open, with McIlroy posting a round of 65 at The Renaissance Club.
And speaking after Thursday’s performance, McIlroy suggested that he is extremely content with his decision to play a lighter schedule.
“The benefits are seeing my family more. Feeling like I have a bit more balance in my life,” he said.
“And then the challenge is, I feel like even though I have played pretty sparsely over the past few months, the starts of my tournaments have all been really good. So it’s not like I’m coming in and starting slow, and the little bit of extra practice I think actually helps in some ways.
“I think one of the other benefits for me, like I’m nearly 20 years into this, and I need to do everything I can to keep my enthusiasm as high as possible, and playing a lighter schedule definitely does that.”
He added: “It’s a very liberating feeling but again I can’t get complacent. I still need to set goals. Scottie talked about it at Shinnecock a couple weeks ago, like if he were to go win the Grand Slam, the goal posts move and you have to figure out what else you want to do.
“To me, I’ve said this a few times this year, I felt like the Grand Slam last year was the destination, and I realised it wasn’t. It’s a continuous journey. It’s a journey until you decide one day that you want to step off and do something else, but as long as I’m on this journey, there will always be goals to achieve.”
What pleased Rory McIlroy about his opening round at the Scottish Open
McIlroy did get off to a shaky start in North Berwick. He made a sloppy bogey on his opening hole after failing to get up and down from the back of the green.
But McIlroy was exceptional for the remainder of his round. He played the front nine, his second nine of the day, in four under par.
And he claimed that some improved driving helped him get off to yet another incredibly strong start at the Scottish Open.
“Yeah, I thought for the most part, I played well. I felt like I drove the ball particularly well, and I started to see that at Shinnecock, as well, a couple weeks ago. A continuation of putting the ball in play, and then once I do that, I feel like I can attack courses and I can setup scoring opportunities. I did that today,” he said.
“I played the par fives well. I think I hit all three greens in regulation. You know, one putt dropped for eagle and two two-putt birdies. That always helps the card.
“Overall, good to get my first round of competitive golf on a links golf course, and it’s obviously a great start to the tournament.”
McIlroy is relishing being back in Europe
The Scottish Open arguably boasts the strongest field of the season outside of the major championships this year, with the majority of the best players on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf all involved.
The conclusion of major championship season also tends to mark the moment where McIlroy’s push to win the Race to Dubai begins to gather pace.
It would be a huge boost for the DP World Tour if they could convince McIlroy to spend even more of his time in Europe over the coming years.
The good news for those at Wentworth is that the 2023 Scottish Open champion seems incredibly appreciative of getting the chance to play closer to home.
“I would say I’ve ebbed and flowed over the course of my career between wanting to play more in Europe and maybe wanting to play less at times. But I think now at this stage of my career, I really enjoy coming back here to play,” he said.
“It reminds me of why I started to play the game in the first place; links golf courses and the crowds are incredible, and the crowds next week at The Open will be amazing, as well. I think all of that, it’s, I don’t want to say reminiscent of when I was growing up, but it’s a comfortable environment for me to play in.”
It is going to be very difficult to stop McIlroy if he unlocks the secret of playing well with a limited schedule.
The early signs at the Scottish Open suggest that it would be extremely naive to think that he is even considering winding down just yet.
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