The world’s best golfers are putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the 154th Open Championship as the Scottish Open gets underway at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. The event has become the traditional warm-up tournament before golf’s oldest major.
Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark are among those in action this weekend, using the tournament to hone their games on a links-style course before tackling Royal Birkdale next week. McIlroy won the Scottish Open three years ago but has not lifted the Claret Jug since 2014.
McIlroy’s Secret Plan Foiled
In the weeks before this year’s Masters, McIlroy made several low-key visits to Augusta National, a strategy that paid off with a second consecutive green jacket. He adopted the same formula ahead of The Open, but his plan was exposed when six-time major winner was spotted at Royal Birkdale by golf legend Sir Nick Faldo, who recorded an impromptu interview.
“It’s good to get up here and play early,” McIlroy told the three-time Open winner. “I’ve been trying to do that at every major championship, which is working for me – try to play a bit of links golf, try to get used to these conditions again.”
Speaking to the press before the Scottish Open, McIlroy admitted he would have preferred the trip to stay under wraps. “Birkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open, for sure. I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there, but Faldo couldn’t put his phone away! I love Nick. In fairness, he’s great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.”
Warning Over Scottish Open Ban
The Scottish Open has long served as a useful warm-up for the world’s top players before The Open. But some of the sport’s biggest names could soon be banned from taking part. Last month, the PGA Tour announced it will be divided into two tiers from 2028: the Championship series, featuring the world’s elite, and the Challenger series. Those in the Championship series will be ineligible to compete in Challenger events, meaning the likes of McIlroy could be barred from prestigious tournaments such as the Scottish Open.
“We’ve got to be careful with that because then these national opens lose the fabric of what they are,” McIlroy warned. “You can’t call yourself a national open anymore if it’s a closed-off tournament and there’s a certain number of guys. These events need to be treated differently than the Travelers Championships or RBC Heritage or whatever else is going to be in the Championship series.”
Defending Open champion Scottie Scheffler agreed, adding: “It needs to work within the new schedule. It’s an important one that we keep it in the Championship series, just because you get so many guys that come over here and play the week before [The Open].”
