\t\t\t\tRory McIlroy had an unexpected meeting with his fellow six-time major champion at this year\u2019s Open venue\u2026<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy prepares for major championships differently these days.<\/p>\n
He has always centered his schedule<\/a> around the four biggest events of the season, but in this part of his career that is dedicated entirely to burnishing his legacy by adding to his tally of six, McIlroy is skipping tournaments to best get himself in shape for the majors.<\/p>\n The weeks before his second Masters<\/a> title were spent flying to and from Augusta National on his private jet for regular scouting missions. And ahead of this year\u2019s Open<\/a> at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy took an early visit to the Southport layout while the rest of the world\u2019s best on the PGA Tour were competing in the $20 million Travelers Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n He jokes he is a \u201cpart-timer\u201d, but it is a deliberate ploy to maximize these defining weeks, and his visit to Birkdale was resourceful for McIlroy and his caddie, Harry Diamond<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHarry actually played Birkdale the week before as well,\u201d McIlroy explained in his press conference ahead of this week\u2019s Genesis Scottish Open. \u201cRefamiliarising myself with some of the holes but obviously Birkdale is a little bit different from what it was back in 2017, too. Just getting an early look at new holes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just means it takes pressure off the start of the week and not feel like you have to play 18 holes any day, and if you want to just play nine, you I feel like you can and not feel like you\u2019re under prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy, though, was expecting his early trip to Birkdale to go under the radar. It turns out Sir Nick Faldo, his fellow six-time major champion, was on site doing his own preparations for punditry duties.<\/p>\n And the Englishman couldn\u2019t resist posting the chance meeting on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cBirkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open for sure,\u201d McIlroy confirmed, before throwing in a light-hearted joke at Faldo\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n \u201cI would have liked to have not have it known that I was there,\u201d he smiled, \u201cbut Faldo couldn\u2019t put his phone away.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy continued: \u201cI love Nick. He\u2019s great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy, who now spends his summers in a house he has built in Wentworth, just outside London, also made a trip to Cornwall last week with Shane Lowry and Luke Donald to to play on one of England\u2019s finest links \u2013 much to the delight of the locals.<\/p>\n \u201cI played St Enodoc last Friday,\u201d he added. \u201cI had never heard of it before, and I guess a top 100 course in the world. It\u2019s really cool. But that was more just for enjoyment. <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going out to play, but it\u2019s nice [to] start hitting the ball off links turf again and start to play in a little bit more wind. Your links instincts come back, even if it is for fun. The stuff that you\u2019ve grown up with starts to come back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Rory, Shane and Luke for visiting St. Enodoc on Friday and making time to meet, chat and take photos with members, locals and visitors<\/p>\n True role models for the next generation, and a day our club and community will remember for years pic.twitter.com\/Rpe3lhcGa3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 stenodocgolf (@stenodocgolf) July 6, 2026<\/a>
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