Rory McIlroy is eyeing a second Scottish Open title in three years

Why Having ‘More Fun’ Is Now Rory McIlroy’s Priority

Rory McIlroy is entering the 2025 Scottish Open with a refreshed mindset and a new personal motto: “have more fun.”

The four-time major winner has had a memorable season, completing the elusive career Grand Slam with his Masters triumph earlier this year. Yet, away from the fairways, McIlroy admits he’s been learning to embrace life beyond golf.

“I feel like this world of golf can become all-encompassing if you let it,” McIlroy told BBC Sport ahead of the event at the Renaissance Club in East Lothian.

Family Time, Ski Trips & Football Nights

Twelve months ago, McIlroy couldn’t remember his last proper holiday. But this year, he’s been intentional about carving out downtime.

After missing the cut at last year’s Open at Troon, he headed straight to Portugal for a family getaway.
In February, he took daughter Poppy on her first ski trip in Montana.
He even squeezed in a football break in January, watching Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen with friends before stopping over in Istanbul en route to Dubai.

“At this stage of life, I’m trying to build my schedule around those weeks instead of the other way around,” McIlroy explained.

Masters Glory and Scottish Open Goals

This week marks McIlroy’s first UK appearance since his historic win at Augusta, where he ended an 11-year major drought.

Having settled into his new home in Wentworth, McIlroy travelled north with Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose as he prepares for a huge fortnight, including The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

“It’s been lovely to detach and hide for a few weeks. Sometimes you need that to get away from the grind,” said the world number two.

“This Tournament Has Grown on Me”

McIlroy is aiming to recapture the Scottish Open title he won in 2023, a tournament he now holds in high regard.

“This course has grown on me. It’s logistically perfect, and it’s a great warm-up for The Open without feeling beaten up,” McIlroy added.

The Renaissance Club’s charm and the relaxed atmosphere of Scottish links golf have made it a favourite stop for many of the PGA Tour’s top stars.

What’s Next?

With Royal Portrush looming large on the calendar, McIlroy hopes to ride momentum from East Lothian into his home Open and potentially add another major to his collection.

“This is a really nice feeling coming back to the UK post-Augusta. I want to enjoy it.”