​Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland surged into the weekend sharing the lead at nine under, after opening with rounds of 65 and 66 at The Renaissance Club during the Genesis Scottish Open. The six-time major champion stood beside Tom Kim and Jordan Smith, using the opportunity to sharpen his game ahead of next week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Despite a weather delay that pushed his third-round tee time into the evening, McIlroy stayed locked in on the task at hand. He emphasized that staying free from distractions would be the key, rather than obsessing over the crowded leaderboard. “If I can just focus on myself, go out there, play my game… and not really focus on what everyone else is doing around me… then I know I’ll have a decent day,” he said.
Putting has become one of the defining reasons behind McIlroy’s ongoing consistency. The area that once hindered him during tournaments has transformed into a source of confidence, and he acknowledged the shift in how he approaches the greens now. When asked whether he looks forward to putting more than before, given the improvements, he replied affirmatively. “Yeah, I am,” he said. He added that there were still good days and bad days in the past, with the bad days often derailing his tournament prospects. He noted that the elimination of those poor putting rounds has been the biggest difference in his game, insisting that he no longer experiences those days. “I feel like I don’t have those days anymore, which is a really good thing.”
McIlroy credited longtime putting coach Brad Faxon for much of his progress, alongside a shift in equipment. “Obviously working with Brad Faxon for the last years has really, really helped.” He also highlighted the value of a more forgiving putter and the Spider model, which has contributed to his improved performance on the greens. The confidence he’s built over successive seasons has allowed him to simplify his routine. “I think just year after year, my confidence builds on the greens and honestly feel like I don’t… have to work like super hard on it.” He described a streamlined approach: establishing a couple of key checkpoints, then playing instinctively when out on the course.
Earlier in the week, McIlroy praised the putting surfaces at The Renaissance Club, noting how comfortable he felt reading the lines. “I like these greens. I see the lines pretty well.” He found the reads straightforward compared to some other links courses that tended to be more subtle. He felt he had his eye in early and holed several solid putts, continuing that success through the rest of the day.
Rory McIlroy’s performance at the Genesis Scottish Open has reinforced his readiness for the Open Championship next week. Despite heavy fog delaying the start of Saturday’s third round, he looked poised to maintain his momentum and apply his sharpenedPutting and overall game to Royal Birkdale. As he continues to trust his improved technique and equipment, McIlroy remains focused on the process rather than the scoreboard, confident that his approach will translate into a strong showing at the major the following week.