Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll outline plans after The Open as family situation changes

Rory McIlroy was back playing with a smile on his face at this week's Scottish Open in Eastern Scotland. It comes at the perfect time for McIlroy, who has opened up about lacking motivation following his career-defining Masters victory at Augusta National earlier this year.

It's the first time since 2019 and only the third time in the tournament's illustrious history that the Open will be held on the island of Ireland, with Royal Portrush the home for next week's event. It's an even bigger occasion for McIlroy, given the course is just an hour from where he grew up in Northern Ireland, with many fantasising over the 36-year-old lifting the Claret Jug on home soil.

What's more, McIlroy has admitted he's happy to be back in Europe and is looking forward to an extended stay in the continent ahead of a house move to London. The golf ace said last month: "I'm looking forward to just getting back to Europe in general. We've got a lot to look forward to, got our new house in London, play the Scottish [Open] and then obviously The Open at Portrush. Just trying to get myself in the right frame of mind to approach that."

McIlroy certainly looked much more like his usual devastating self in the first two rounds at the Scottish Open. Having started 2025 in flying form, McIlroy arrived at the Masters having already won two PGA Tour titles for the first time in his career.

McIlroy will be keen to ensure the recent drop off doesn't define what's been a memorable year for the green jacket holder. But even after The Open, there's still plenty for McIlroy to focus on, given Europe and the USA will renew rivalries at the Ryder Cup later this year.

McIlroy has already started the mind games ahead of the Bethpage meet-up, hinting that the Team USA captaincy role is merely a ceremonial position. Speaking at The Renaissance Club, he said: "It's a different perspective, absolutely. It really feels like it's a player-led team in America. We have our input as players on the European team, but we do have that one figurehead in Luke. I think that's important.

"Even going back to Rome, when the Americans got off to a pretty rough start, because Zach [Johnson] gave the team so much ownership they had no one to look to. They were looking at each other instead of having a focal point: 'Tell us what to do.' That is something Europe has done very, very well. But also the players have allowed the captain to be a captain as well."