Roaring back to the Renaissance

Rory McIlroy returns to the home of golf this month in a bid to claim his second Rolex Series title and help cement his place at the top of the Race to Dubai rankings.

The four-time Major winner heads into the week at the Renaissance Club as one of world golf’s inform players with an abundance of top ten finishes to his name in 2023, including a triumph at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

However, Scotland’s national open hasn’t been a happy hunting ground in the past for the 34-year-old with his best result coming back in 2008 when he finished in a share of 19^th place.

And despite also missing the cut the last time he played the event back in 2021, the Northern Irishman remains optimistic about the possibility of winning another one of the DP World Tour’s most iconic events.

The tournament on Scotland’s east coast also supplies a much-welcome opportunity for the 15-time DP World Tour winner to hone in on his Links golf skills before heading to the Open Championship a week later.

The fourth and final Major of the year is scheduled to take place at Royal Liverpool, the venue where McIlroy claimed his Claret Jug back in 2014 when he beat Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia by two shots.

Following that Open Championship triumph nearly 10 years ago, McIlroy credited the additional week’s preparation on a Links course stating, “I went and played four competitive rounds of Links golf at the Scottish Open last week which really helped.”

But will the four-time Major champion benefit again this year from more Links golf preparation?

It simply has to be an advantage, with additional time spent adjusting to the undulating fairways and tricky greens that come with playing Links golf.

he Genesis Scottish Open is a prestigious tournament in its own right, but the supporting role it plays towards the year’s final Major only enhances its status as one of the golf’s best events.

The increased World Ranking points on offer from such a stellar field can only ensure further motivation for players, such as McIlroy, to bring their A game.

And if the Northern Irishman was to claim his first win in Scotland, he’ll make significant strides towards defending the Harry Vardon Trophy which he secured at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at the back end of last year.