Rory McIlroy shook off a slow start and tricky winds to close his opening round at the Scottish Open on a high note.

McIlroy has played this event twice since he became co-sanctioned in 2022, winning in 2023 and finishing T-4 last year. He closed well at the U.S. Open and carried that over into the Travelers Championship where he tied for sixth, so he's gaining some momentum as he regains his focus before next week's Open.

Before the 2025 Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy had an unexpected encounter with comedian Troy Hawke, known for his quirky greetings. Hawke, dressed in a

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Open, McIlroy said that longevity was an “under appreciated” part of an athletic career, and shouted out some fellow sporting veterans such as Novak Djokovic, who just advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals at 38.

The PGA Tour is set to begin its first of back-to-back tournaments in Europe with the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, on Thursday. The 2025 Scottish Open will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour for the fourth straight year.

Watch Rory McIlroy in action on Sky Sports at the Scottish Open from Thursday through to Sunday, and at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush the following weekend; watch the tournaments live this month on

Rory McIlroy had admitted to exhaustion after completing the career Grand Slam but said he's ready for several opportunities coming up to make more history.

Many of the best players in the world are in Scotland this week for the Scottish Open, which serves as a tune-up of sorts for players on a links course ahead of next week's Open Championship. That will be contested at Royal Portrush,