Rory McIlroy set for Genesis Scottish Open return after US Open heartbreak at the hands of Bryson DeChambeau

Rory McIlroy will resume competitive activity this week when he defends his Genesis Scottish Open title at the Renaissance Golf Club in North Berwick, Scotland. McIlroy won the title in 2023 with a score of 15 under 265.

Mcllroy took a three-week break after losing by one stroke to Bryson DeChambeau in the 2024 U.S. Open. The North Irishman once again fell just short of winning his career fifth major championship when he missed a three-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have allowed him to force a playoff.

In frustration, Rory McIlroy decided to withdraw from the eighth Signature Event of the season, the Travelers Championship, to recover for The Open Championship, the last major of the year.

“I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland,” Rory McIlroy said on Instagram (via Golfweek).

A week before playing at Royal Troon, Rory McIlroy will be looking to defend his Genesis Scottish Open title, one of his most spectacular victories in recent years.

So much so that the Renaissance Golf Club recently unveiled a plaque to commemorate Rory McIlroy's phenomenal 2-iron shot that reached the green on the 18th hole of the fourth round to virtually secure his victory.

---

Recalling Rory McIlroy's victory at the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open

Rory McIlroy began the fourth round of the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open leading the event with a score of 13 under, one stroke ahead of Tom Kim. While the Korean did not have a very fortunate final day, the Northern Irishman was able to keep a good pace.

However, before McIlroy started his final round performance, another player was already making headlines. It was Robert MacIntyre, who was looking to become the first Scot to win his national open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

MacIntyre played the fourth round with an eagle, five birdies and a bogey, to bring his score to 14 under after 72 holes. This took him to the temporary lead of the event, although McIlroy had not finished his performance.

Mcllroy had two birdies and four bogeys on the front nine, a score that was pushing him back considerably on the leaderboard. However, McIlroy's best was yet to come and he played bogey free with four birdies on the back nine to win the tournament by one stroke.

Mcllroy's triumph was intensely felt all the way to the finish. He reached the 18th hole tied with MacIntyre, so he needed a birdie to win. The wind was blowing hard, so McIlroy played conservatively and took his tee shot just 253 yards to the left rough.

It was then that McIlroy executed his now famous 2-iron shot, which sent his ball 205 yards to the green, leaving it just 10 feet, eight inches short of the hole. It was a low elevation, long-range shot, which made it very difficult to hit. McIlroy then cleanly executed his putt, birdied the hole to take home his 24th PGA Tour title.