Rory McIlroy had an unexpected meeting with his fellow six-time major champion at this year’s Open venue…
Rory McIlroy prepares for major championships differently these days.
He has always centered his schedule 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.
The weeks before his second Masters title were spent flying to and from Augusta National on his private jet for regular scouting missions. And ahead of this year’s Open at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy took an early visit to the Southport layout while the rest of the world’s best on the PGA Tour were competing in the $20 million Travelers Championship.
He jokes he is a “part-timer”, 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.
“Harry actually played Birkdale the week before as well,” McIlroy explained in his press conference ahead of this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. “Refamiliarising 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.
“It 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’re under prepared.”
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.
And the Englishman couldn’t resist posting the chance meeting on social media.
“Birkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open for sure,” McIlroy confirmed, before throwing in a light-hearted joke at Faldo’s expense.
“I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there,” he smiled, “but Faldo couldn’t put his phone away.”
McIlroy continued: “I love Nick. He’s great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.”
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’s finest links – much to the delight of the locals.
“I played St Enodoc last Friday,” he added. “I had never heard of it before, and I guess a top 100 course in the world. It’s really cool. But that was more just for enjoyment.
“You’re going out to play, but it’s 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’ve grown up with starts to come back to you.”
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
True role models for the next generation, and a day our club and community will remember for years pic.twitter.com/Rpe3lhcGa3
— stenodocgolf (@stenodocgolf) July 6, 2026