Genesis Scottish Open: Rory McIlroy enjoys ‘perfect’ preparation for The Open and says event should be National Open ‘blueprint’ golf news

Rory McIlroy believes the Genesis Scottish Open is “perfect” preparation for The Open and should be used as a “blueprint” for incorporating national Opens into the new PGA Tour schedule.

McIlroy returns to action for the first time since the US Open and appears in the event for the fifth time in six seasons, 15 of the world’s top 20 at The Renaissance Club ahead of The Open next week at Royal Birkdale.

The PGA Tour will implement a two-tier schedule from 2028, seeing promotion and relegation between the ‘Championship Series’ and ‘Challenger Series’, with this week’s event currently the only tournament in Europe co-sanctioned between them and the DP World Tour.

McIlroy has previously spoken out in support of their importance to the national Open and the global game, with the six-time major champion keen to see the Scottish Open take an important place in the season, but without significant changes to how the field is assembled.

“Since this event has been co-sanctioned, it’s really gone from strength to strength,” McIlroy said. “You look at the quality of the field this week, you’ve got a great sponsor like Genesis on board. They keep improving the golf course and the facilities every year.

“For this strong National Open, that, to me, is the blueprint for what can be and what can happen. It’s a perfect lead-in to the Open Championship.

“I thought the Canadian Open could be co-sanctioned, leading into the US Open as well. It could be interesting, as well, to try to build this series of national opens that have a little more money behind them.

“I don’t know how it fits into Track 1 and Track 2, but I look at this event and I see how well it’s done over the last few years. I definitely think it’s the blueprint for a lot of other National Opens.”

He then added: “We have to be careful with that because then these kind of 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 people there.

“These events need to be treated differently than what’s going to happen in the Travelers Championship or the RBC Heritage or the Champions Series. There’s definitely a bit more nuance to these tournaments.”

McIlroy has been in the UK primarily since mid-May, taking a scouting mission to Royal Birkdale last month and a golfing trip to Cornwall before linking up with back-to-back golf events.

“It’s been nice to play some links golf the last few weeks and obviously enjoy the run up to this event and The Open,” McIlroy explained. “It’s always good to be back. It’s not (Scotland) home, but it feels like home in a way and I’m excited to get a little bit of golf under my belt over the next few days.

“Birkdale was definitely a scouting trip for The Open. I would have loved to not have known I was there but (Sir Nick) 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.

“It’s nice, you start hitting the ball off the links turf again and start playing in the air a little bit more. Your links instincts come back, even if it’s just for fun. The things you grew up with start coming back to you.

“Obviously Birkdale is a bit different to what it was in 2017. Getting an early look at the new holes takes the pressure off early in the week and it doesn’t feel like you have to play 18 holes on any given day. If you only want to play nine, I think you can and it doesn’t feel like you’re under-prepared.”

Who will win the Genesis Scottish Open? Watch live all week on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am on Thursday. Get Sky Sports or Golf Stream with no contract.

When is the Open live on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with over 75 hours of live coverage across seven days of tournament week at Royal Birkdale.

Live coverage for each of the three practice days begins on Sky Sports Golf before wall-to-wall action kicks off from the final men’s major of the year at 6.30am on Thursday 16 July.

Sky Sports+ or The Sky Sports appWith extended coverage then starting at 9am on Saturday 18 July and 8am on Sunday 19 July

Who will win the 154th Open? Watch exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf from 16-19 July. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.