McIlroy Admits He Has 'Work to Do' Before The Open After Final-Round 64 at Genesis Scottish Open

McIlroy Admits He Has 'Work to Do' Before The Open After Final-Round 64 at Genesis Scottish Open

By Alex Christian | MBCF News — July 12, 2026, 

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Rory McIlroy admitted he still has work to do ahead of The Open Championship despite producing a brilliant final-round 64 to set the clubhouse target at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.

The four-time major champion finished the tournament at 12-under-par after making eight birdies in his closing round, recovering from a disappointing third-round 73 that left him six shots behind the overnight leaders.

Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy said he understood what had gone wrong with his swing and planned to work on it before The Open Championship begins on Thursday.

"Felt like I was pretty much in control of everything after the first two days and then on the long day yesterday, waiting around, didn't get off to the best of starts," McIlroy said.

"Didn't finish the third round off today particularly well, sort of pieced it together, realised what I was doing, tried to figure it out a bit on the range before I went out for my final round.

"At least I know what I'm doing, it's a matter of trying to rectify it. Obviously there was some good in there today but there was some bad as well, so I'm going to need to work a little bit over the next couple of days to be ready for Thursday."

McIlroy also explained the technical issue behind his inconsistent iron play during the week.

"I think I just need to hit some balls in a right to left wind - that usually helps me," he said.

"It's the same thing that I get a lot when I start hitting balls in a left to right wind, like it has been on the range over the weekend.

"My path and my face just get too far apart - my face is just aiming a lot further left than my path is and I start hitting these left shots, especially with the irons.

"It was feeling good coming in here and it was good. I hit some really good iron shots over the first couple of days but the more I hit balls in a left to right wind, the more that starts to show itself and then it's a bit of a struggle from there."

McIlroy also showed his frustration during the final round after pulling an approach shot into the rough on the 16th hole, saying: "I'm so bad at golf!"

At the time McIlroy completed his round, Tom Kim led the tournament at 16-under-par, with Min Woo Lee at 14-under and Matt Fitzpatrick among the closest challengers as the final groups continued their rounds at The Renaissance Club.

Analysis: McIlroy's 64 Showed His Class, but His Own Words Suggest the Work Isn't Finished

Rory McIlroy's final-round 64 at the Genesis Scottish Open reminded everyone why he remains one of golf's most dangerous players. Eight birdies, a charge up the leaderboard and the clubhouse lead looked, on paper, like the ideal way to build momentum before The Open Championship. Yet when McIlroy spoke after his round, his focus was not on the scorecard. Instead, he spoke about swing issues, technical adjustments and the work still needed before Thursday.

That contrast may be the biggest takeaway from his week in Scotland. The score suggested everything was back on track. McIlroy's own assessment suggested otherwise.

The tournament became a tale of two completely different rounds. After sharing the lead through the opening stages of the week, McIlroy lost momentum with a third-round 73, leaving himself six shots off the pace. Less than 24 hours later, he responded with one of the best rounds of the day, shooting 64 and climbing back into contention.

The difference between those two rounds highlights how small the margins are at the highest level of golf. McIlroy admitted he "pieced it together" after recognising what had gone wrong and spending time on the range before his final round. That comment is revealing because it suggests the turnaround was not simply about making more putts or getting a few lucky breaks. It came from understanding a technical issue and making adjustments quickly enough to compete again.

Even so, McIlroy stopped short of saying the problem had been solved. He acknowledged there was "some good" in the final round but also "some bad." For most players, a 64 would leave little room for criticism. McIlroy judged it differently. His standards are measured against major championships, not just one excellent round.

Perhaps the most valuable insight came when McIlroy explained exactly what had been troubling his swing. Rather than offering a vague answer, he described how his club path and clubface become too far apart when he spends time hitting shots in a left-to-right wind.

That level of detail offers a rare glimpse into the constant adjustments elite golfers make. Professional players rarely lose their swings overnight. More often, tiny changes in alignment, clubface position or swing path become exaggerated under certain conditions. For McIlroy, he believes those conditions were created by repeatedly practising and playing in a left-to-right wind during the week.

The encouraging part is that McIlroy knows exactly what he is trying to fix. In professional sport, identifying the problem is often half the battle. A player searching for answers can lose confidence quickly. McIlroy, however, sounded like someone who understood the cause and simply needed time to correct it.

Whether that can be achieved before The Open is the question. Golf is unusual because technical changes cannot simply be forced in a matter of hours. A player may know what adjustment is needed, but trust has to return under pressure. The challenge is not only making the change on the practice range but repeating it when every shot matters.

McIlroy has only a short window before the season's final major begins. His comments about needing "to work a little bit over the next couple of days" suggest he believes the fix is manageable rather than a complete rebuild. That is encouraging because there is a significant difference between fine-tuning a swing and searching for one.

At the same time, there is no guarantee that practice alone will remove every inconsistency. Links golf often presents changing winds, uneven lies and demanding approach shots that quickly expose even the smallest technical weakness. If similar conditions return next week, McIlroy's adjustments will immediately be tested.

Another revealing moment came during the final round itself. After pulling an approach shot into the rough on the 16th hole, McIlroy muttered, "I'm so bad at golf!"

Taken literally, the remark makes little sense. It came during one of his best rounds of the tournament. Instead, it reflected the expectations he places on himself. Elite athletes often judge themselves against perfection rather than the scoreboard. A shot that most professionals would happily accept can frustrate a player chasing another major championship.

That emotional reaction also shows how invested McIlroy remains in every shot. Some observers may see frustration as a weakness, but it can also reflect a relentless pursuit of improvement. The important factor is how quickly a player responds. McIlroy did not allow one poor swing to derail the rest of his round, which suggests his confidence remained intact despite the visible frustration.

As the Scottish Open drew to a close, the leaderboard showed McIlroy had given himself a chance with a remarkable Sunday performance. His own words, however, painted a more balanced picture. He celebrated neither the score nor the comeback. Instead, he spoke about preparation, technical work and being ready for Thursday.

That may ultimately be the biggest lesson from his week. The 64 confirmed that McIlroy has the scoring ability to challenge anyone when his game clicks. His post-round comments also made it clear that he believes another level is still required before The Open begins.

The scoreboard says McIlroy arrives at the year's final major with momentum. His own assessment says the preparation continues. Whether those final adjustments prove enough will become clear when he tees it up on Thursday.

Source: [Sky Sports Golf] Post-Round Interview, Genesis Scottish Open, July 12, 2026