Rory McIlroy "finds something" in his swing week before The Open starts

14 July 2023 , 19:08

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Rory McIlroy carded a four-under-par round of 66 on Friday. (Image: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Less than a week remains until The Open tees off at Royal Liverpool and Rory McIlroy's fine form continues as the Northern Irishman chases an elusive fifth major.

The 34-year-old has finished in the top 10 in his past five events, including an agonising second-place finish at the US Open in June. But he sits atop the leaderboard after the second round at the Scottish Open.

McIlroy backed up a sublime six-under-par 64 on Thursday by carding a 66 on Friday to take the clubhouse lead at 10-under-par, a shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton, Tom Kim and Byeong-hun An at the Renaissance Club.

McIlroy delivered a ball-striking clinic over the first 36 holes and is full of confidence after a breakthrough last month at the Travelers Championship, where he finished tied for seventh. He is reaping the rewards with an impressive performance in the final event before The Open begins at Hoylake – where McIlroy lifted the Claret Jug nine years ago.

"I feel I hit the ball really well from tee to green and gave myself tonnes of birdie looks out there," McIlroy told Sky Sports on Friday. "I didn’t make as many as I would have wanted, but I can’t be anything but pleased about how I’ve played over the past two days. It’s been good to see and I’m excited to be in contention going into another weekend.

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"The iron play has been really good. I actually feel like I found something the week after the US Open at the Travelers. It was just a nice feeling in my swing and I’ve carried that with me over the past few weeks and it’s really helped, especially with the iron play and the wedge play."

Rory McIlroy leads the Scottish Open after carding rounds of 64 and 66. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

McIlroy seems to have been freed up by the dramatic shift in the golf landscape over the past month with the PGA Tour's proposed merger with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf. He had assumed the responsibility of a quasi-spokesman for the PGA Tour, denouncing the breakaway league.

But with his efforts becoming increasingly futile due to the PGA Tour's intention to do business with LIV's backers, McIlroy has increasingly prioritised his own game and it has benefitted on the course, albeit without lifting a trophy.

Ending the torturous wait for a major championship is the top priority for McIlroy after a barren run of nine years with many chances slipping through his grasp. But he is determined to get the job done this weekend to claim his first title since the Dubai Desert Classic in January. And it would also be his first in Scotland.

‌"It would mean a lot (to win this weekend)," he added. "I pride myself on being a global player and trying to come back and play in Europe as much as I can.

"I’ve never won in Scotland before. I’ve had a tonne of close calls at the Dunhill and The Open, so it would be nice to get my first win in Scotland."

Sam Frost