​Rory McIlroy on Wednesday expressed the hope that staying in what he called “home” would benefit him for the forthcoming Scottish Open and the British Open the following week. The six-time major champion has been based at Wentworth since mid-May, even though he mostly resides in Florida, ahead of the Scottish Open, which starts at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick on Thursday. The British Open, meanwhile, will be hosted at Royal Birkdale on the coast near Liverpool, about 350 kilometers northwest of Wentworth.
“Wentworth isn’t home, but it feels a bit like home in a way, and I’m excited to get a bit of links golf under my belt over the next few days,” McIlroy told reporters. “I’ve got some good memories here and we’ve stayed in the same house for the last few years. We’re next door to the Fleetwoods, and I was playing football with Frankie, Tommy’s son, last night.” All of that stuff is cool, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman added.
McIlroy is set to tee off in a headline three-ball on Thursday at the Renaissance Club, where he will partner England-born star Robert MacIntyre, a local favorite, and another rising talent, Chris Gotterup. The scene is set for a high-profile day of golf as the field focuses on both the Scottish Open and the upcoming major.
In the meantime, world number one Scottie Scheffler is preparing to defend the Claret Jug when he heads out later with McIlroy’s neighbor, Tommy Fleetwood, and another Englishman, Matt Fitzpatrick. Scheffler emphasized that his trip was about more than just preparation in theory. “I didn’t come over here just for smoke and prep. I came over here to play golf and play well,” he said. He added that he isn’t sure he has ever played in the final group at this event, so it would be nice to climb near the lead and experience that moment as well.
With the Scottish Open and British Open looming, the scene at the Renaissance Club is ripe with anticipation. McIlroy’s notes about feeling at home are underscored by a sense of continuity—staying in the same house for several years, keeping a familiar rhythm, and blending his practice with the social comforts that come from being in a community he knows well. The sense of home, for McIlroy, isn’t just a physical location but a blend of routines, relationships, and the comfort of a setting that has long supported his game as he prepares for two major challenges across consecutive weeks.