When Rory McIlroy tees off Thursday on the Scottish Open, he’ll be doing so with greater than only a recent minimize.
The reigning Masters champion unveiled a shorter coiffure Wednesday at The Renaissance Membership in North Berwick, Scotland, following a restful few weeks at his new London-area dwelling, the place he took “time to reflect” and “rekindle [his] excitement” for the game.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth and been since trying to settle in and it’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you, and sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while,” McIlroy stated, in response to The Telegraph.
“Yeah, it’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year. Obviously we have this week in Scotland and then a massive week next week [for the Open] in Portrush.”
Since capturing golf’s Grand Slam in April, when he celebrated at Augusta Nationwide alongside spouse Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy, McIlroy’s post-Masters victory lap has been something however clean.
Because the PGA Championship obtained underway in Could, the Northern Irishman discovered himself on the heart of controversy when his high driver was deemed non-conforming, forcing him to make a change.
He declined to talk with the media, a development that continued into the primary spherical of the U.S. Open in June.
When McIlroy did communicate to the media at Oakmont, he supplied uninspired remarks about his play.
“I was sort of thinking, ‘Do I really want two more days here or not?’ So, it makes it easier to play better when you’re in that mindset,” stated McIlroy, who completed at 7-over par.
Throughout Wednesday’s outing at The Renaissance Membership, McIlroy was seen greeting followers, signing autographs and smiling on the podium.
Being again on his facet of the pond has performed wonders for his emotional well being.
“There’s a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here and Justin and I were talking about that,” McIlroy recalled of a dialog he had along with his Masters playoff opponent, Englishman Justin Rose.
“You play PGA Tour golf for the first 25, 30 weeks of the year and you need to completely get away from it — because this world of golf can become all-encompassing. In this last fortnight, I felt like I could detach and sort of hide in a way. I needed that. My game needed that.”
McIlroy tied for fourth on the Scottish Open final July.
He’s set to compete within the fourth and closing main of the 12 months subsequent week with The Open at Royal Portrush.
Xander Schauffele is the defending Open champion.
