Rory McIlroy is sporting a new look for this week’s Scottish Open but he has been in punchy form when it comes to his career achievements.
The five-time Major winner – searching for his best form since completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April – debuted a new haircut at the Genesis Scottish Open, ditching his usual curls for a much shorter look.
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The 36-year-old chopped off his curls ahead of the Genesis Scottish OpenCredit: Getty
Since his historic win at Augusta, McIlroy has failed to hit the heights of his brilliant start to 2025.
He fell out of the top-40 at the PGA Championship and missed the cut at the Canadian Open but he was able to land a top-20 finish at the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and finish tied for sixth at the Travelers Championship.
McIlroy may finally be starting to trend in the right direction since his historic win in April and he was in upbeat mood during his media conference.
But at the The Renaissance Club ahead of his opening round he reflected on a career that has been played out in the spotlight.
“I think it’s one of the underappreciated things about any sport, that longevity piece is something that maybe isn’t talked about enough,” he said.
“Once you get to a certain level, I feel like the journey on the way up is almost, I’m not going to say it’s easy, but you have momentum and you’re riding that wave to the top.
“And then once you get there, it takes just as much work, if not more work, to stay there.
Media commitments have been infrequent for the 36-year-old over the last few months as he has chosen to skip pre and post round interviews.
But in North Berwick, one week away from an Open in his homeland, he opened up on the career that has seen him win more than 44 times on the PGA and DP World Tour.
He claimed his first title as a 19-year-old when he won the Dubai Desert Classic and two years later he won the first of his major titles.
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The Northern Irish native looked laid back and relaxed during his practice roundsCredit: Getty
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McIlroy was champion at Augusta to complete the career Grand SlamCredit: Getty
Three more followed by the age of 25 but it was more than a decade later that McIlroy had his career Grand Slam and a fifth major.
Golf offers an opportunity like no other for an extended career, but making it last is the preserve of very few.
“I think about my career before I won this Major this year, the last Major I won in 2014 – I had never heard of Scottie Scheffler. So I think that is a very important piece of it,”
“This is my 18th year on Tour. I’ve been winning professional events for 16 years, and I just think my drive to keep trying to get a little bit better or trying to look for little holes in my game that I can tidy up, I think that’s a big piece of it.
“It’s one of the underappreciated things about any sport
“You look at what Djokovic is doing at Wimbledon over the last couple weeks or what some of those guys have done, or what someone like Cristiano Ronaldo is still doing at 40 years old, or Tom Brady in American football.”
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Back on the course, McIlroy took his new look out for a spin and decided to give one young fan a morning he won’t soon forget.
While warming up he spotted a young fan watching him and mimicking his shot off to the side.
McIlroy called his young fan over and the two played an entire hole together: “You were up early this morning weren’t you?” the young fan was asked.
“Yeah, 6am, sorry no, 5:40am,” he answered.
“I was up at 4:45,” McIlroy playfully interjected. “I was up very early.”
The two finished off the hole while the early crowd in attendance cheered the youngster’s successful putt.
McIlroy signed the fan’s ball and the two took a picture to wrap up a wholesome and memorable moment for the young boy.
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McIlroy made a young fan’s dayCredit: X/@SCOTTISHOPEN
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McIlroy is hoping to turn things around after struggling as of lateCredit: Getty
McIlroy is hoping to win a second Scottish Open having been victorious in 2023, while next week at Portrush he will aim for just a second professional title on the island of Ireland.
Back in 2016 he won the Irish Open at the K Club, but an Open at Portrush would be even better – but McIlroy sees the bigger picture
“I think it’s a great representation of how far Northern Ireland has come in the last 30 or 40 years.
“In the 70s, the 80s and the 90s, no one would have dreamed of hosting an Open Championship in Northern Ireland. So it’s a testament to the people of Northern Ireland for how far we as a country have come.
“I think my generation couldn’t care less about what had happened in the past. Everyone’s just looking forward. My mum and dad both grew up in the 60s and the 70s and Northern Ireland was a very different place.
“I feel very fortunate that I’m of the generation that I am that I didn’t have to deal with any of that or very little of it.
“It has come a long, long way. People really appreciate when a huge sporting event that the world’s eyes are on that week happens. Everyone there really appreciates that and excited to show the country in the best light possible.”