The best golfers in the world are currently in Scotland as preparations ramp up for The Open at Royal Birkdale next week
Rory McIlroy will hope to claim a second major of the year at next week’s Open Championship(Image: Warren Little/Getty Images)
The world’s best golfers are putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the 154th Open Championship as the Scottish Open gets underway. Held at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, the event has become the traditional warm-up tournament before golf’s oldest major.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark are all in action this weekend, using the tournament as the ideal opportunity to hone their games on a links-style course before tackling Royal Birkdale next week. McIlroy claimed victory in the Scottish Open three years ago but has not lifted the famous Claret Jug since 2014.
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World No.1 Scheffler, meanwhile, will be preparing to defend his Open crown he claimed so emphatically at Royal Portrush last year and avoid a first major-less year since 2023. With a big couple of weeks on the way, Mirror Sport has taken a look at the latest talking points from the world of golf.
McIlroy’s secret plan foiled
In the weeks leading up to this year’s Masters, McIlroy made several low-key visits to Augusta National to play the course. That trick paid off, with the Northern Irishman going on to claim a second consecutive green jacket in style.
McIlroy has now adopted the same formula ahead of The Open – although the plan has not stayed a secret for long. The six-time major winner was spotted at Royal Birkdale by golf legend Sir Nick Faldo, who used the chance encounter to record an impromptu interview.
“It’s good to get up here and play early,” McIlroy told the three-time Open winner. “I’ve been trying to do that at every major championship, which is working for me – try to play a bit of links golf, try to get used to these conditions again.”
McIlroy (left) bumped into Sir Nick Faldo (right) while practicing at Royal Birkdale(Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Speaking to the press before the Scottish Open, McIlroy admitted he would have liked his trip to stay under wraps. “Birkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open, for sure,” he said.
“I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there, but Faldo couldn’t put his phone away! I love Nick. In fairness, he’s great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.”
Warning over Scottish Open ban
The Scottish Open has long-served as a useful warm-up for the world’s top players before The Open. But some of the sport’s biggest names could soon be banned from taking part.
McIlroy famously won the Scottish Open in 2023(Image: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Last month, the PGA revealed last month that the PGA Tour will be divided into two tiers – the Championship series, featuring the world’s elite, and the Challenger series. Those who play in the Championship series will be ineligible to compete in Challenger events, meaning the likes of McIlroy could be barred from a range of prestigious tournaments from 2028, such as the Scottish Open.
“We’ve got to be careful with that because then these national opens lose the fabric of what they are,” McIlroy warned. “You can’t call yourself a national open anymore if it’s a closed-off tournament and there’s a certain number of guys.
Scottie Scheffler said the Scottish Open was vital preparation for The Open
“These events need to be treated differently than the Travelers Championships or RBC Heritage or whatever else is going to be in the Championship series.”
Defending Open champion Scheffler agreed, adding: “It needs to work within the new schedule. It’s an important one that we keep it in the Championship series, just because you get so many guys that come over here and play the week before [The Open].”
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