Rory McIlroy Rediscovers Form at Scottish Open, Finishes Runner-Up Ahead of Open Championship
Rory McIlroy is showing strong signs of a resurgence, finishing second at the Scottish Open this weekend and reminding the golf world of the form that earned him a historic Masters title in April. After completing the career Grand Slam earlier this year, the World No. 2 had struggled with a string of underwhelming performances — until now.
McIlroy surged to the top of the leaderboard after Saturday’s third round, carding an 11-under-par total. Although he ultimately came up just short of victory on Sunday, his runner-up finish marks a clear return to form and a well-timed confidence boost ahead of next week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
“This was my first realistic chance to win since the Masters,” McIlroy said after the final round. “It’s been a great season. I won at Pebble Beach, I won THE PLAYERS. But I needed a bit of a breather, some space to process everything. I feel like this week I arrived with renewed energy and excitement for what’s ahead.”
That energy, he said, came from time spent with his wife, Erica Stoll, at their newly renovated home on the prestigious Wentworth Estate in Surrey — a property he reportedly poured $12 million into upgrading.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth, just trying to settle in,” he shared earlier in the week. “It’s amazing what two weeks of detachment can do for you. I had time to sit with my thoughts, to reflect, and just breathe.”
McIlroy credited that downtime not only with helping him recharge, but also with restoring his mental clarity after months of pressure and expectation following his Grand Slam triumph.
“Having that space really helped me rekindle my enthusiasm for the rest of the season. I’ve felt sharper and more motivated than I have in a while,” he said. “Obviously, this week in Scotland has been a big step forward — and now we’ve got a huge week ahead in Portrush.”
With the Open Championship looming on home soil, McIlroy’s timing couldn’t be better. His Scottish Open performance may not have ended with a trophy, but it sent a clear message: Rory is back in the mix — and hungry for more.