Rory McIlroy making most of familiar surroundings as he gears up for Open

Rory McIlroy is hoping to make the most of some home comforts as he gears up for the Genesis Scottish Open and then The Open at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy returns to action in North Berwick after a disappointing US Open, finishing six over par at Shinnecock Hills.

The Northern Irishman won at the Renaissance Club in 2023 and was tied second last year as Chris Gotterup claimed his maiden DP World Tour title.

“It is not home, but feels like home in a way and (I am) excited to get a little bit of links golf under my belt these next few days,” said the Masters champion McIlroy, who sported his Green Jacket in the Royal Box at Wimbledon last week.

“I have some good memories and we have stayed in the same house here for the last few years, next door to the Fleetwoods and I was playing football with (Tommy’s son) Frankie last night.”

McIlroy has based himself back at Wentworth since mid-May and recently spent four days “down in Cornwall with the Donalds and the Lowrys”.

A video of his early scouting trip to play Royal Birkdale was posted on social media by Sir Nick Faldo.

“I would have liked to have not had it known that I was there, but Faldo couldn’t put his phone away!” joked McIlroy, who was criticised by some for spending so much time at Augusta before his successful Masters defence.

“(It was) just getting an early look at new holes and means it takes pressure off the start of the week.”

McIlroy will start alongside home favourite Bob MacIntyre and defending champion Gotterup at the Renaissance Club on Thursday morning.

Both he and the Scotsman urged the PGA Tour not to tamper with the event’s status in the calendar as it moves towards a two-tier schedule introducing more 20million US dollar (£15m) restricted fields for the top golfers.

“I think this is a perfect lead-in to the Open Championship,” said the Northern Irishman.

“These events need to be treated differently than the Travelers Championship or RBC Heritage or whatever else is going to be in the (Track 1) Champions Series. There’s a little bit more nuance with these tournaments.

“We’ve got to be careful because then these national Opens lose the fabric of what they are: you can’t call yourself a national Open anymore if it’s a closed off tournament and there’s a certain number of guys.”

MacIntyre added: “I think the Scottish Open has got to be before The Open. I think it will be.

“I think it would be a bit mad to put a 20m dollar event in Scotland when the world we live in today: it’s not the same as America. It’s more realistic on the money side of it.”

World number one Scottie Scheffler, who defends his Open title at Birkdale next week, is paired with with England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick.

“I didn’t come over here just for smoke and prep. I came over here to play golf and play well,” Scheffler said.

“I don’t think I’ve played in the final group here yet, so it would be nice to get up near the lead and experience that as well.”

With the Scottish Open being co-sanctioned, Jon Rahm is set to play a first PGA Tour competition outside the majors since his switch to LIV Golf.