Rory McIlroy switches focus to British Open after runner-up finish at the Scottish Open
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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in action during the final round of the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick on July 13.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NORTH BERWICK – Rory McIlroy was delighted with his form at the Scottish Open after finishing runner-up to American Chris Gotterup on July 13 and the Northern Irishman said his game is in a good place heading into the British Open at Royal Portrush this week.
McIlroy was looking to become the first player to win the US Masters and Scottish Open in the same season but finished two shots behind world No. 158 Gotterup at the Renaissance Club, tied with Marco Penge for second place.
The 36-year-old has struggled to find his best form after completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April and said in June he had not known how hard it would be to stay motivated.
However, after a strong performance in North Berwick, the five-time Major champion said he was now ready to fully focus on the Open from July 17 to 20 in Northern Ireland.
“I’m really happy with where everything is,” McIlroy, who won the 2014 British Open, told reporters.
“Looking forward to getting to Portrush tonight and getting out onto the golf course early tomorrow and just turning my attention to that.
“I’m really happy with where my game is, the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight.
“It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that’s about it,” added the world No. 2, who missed the cut at the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon.
On July 13, Gotterup’s four-under 66 to finish on 15 under 265 was too good for McIlroy.
“This is awesome,” Gotterup said, fighting back tears. “I’m not going to be able to keep it together.”
But he kept it together at key moments in the final round. Gotterup’s 15-under 265 total was two strokes better than McIlroy and England’s Penge at The Renaissance Club.
It was Gotterup’s second PGA Tour win and guaranteed him a spot during at the British Open.
Penge shot 66 in the final round and McIlroy posted 68.
McIlroy, aiming to win the tournament for the second time in three years, led after back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. But after a birdie on No. 8, he had pars across each of the last 10 holes.
“Chris played a great round of golf,” McIlroy said. “He was so solid. Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. Yeah, after he got a couple ahead, I just couldn’t claw back.”
Gotterup used four birdies on a six-hole stretch ending at No. 12 to move to the top. He held a two-shot edge until his bogey on No. 15, where he hit his tee shot in the rough.
But on the next hole, Gotterup rolled in a 10-foot birdie for a two-shot advantage again. He sensed it was a key situation.
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard (64) and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (67) shared fourth place at 12 under. REUTERS, AFP
