THE 153RD OPEN

July 20, 2025

Rory McIlroy

Mixed Zone

Q. Scottie unstoppable today. Can you just give us your reflections on that and your week here?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, none of us could hang with Scottie this week. He's an incredible player. He's been dominant this week. Honestly, he's been dominant for the last couple years. He is the bar that we're all trying to get to.

In a historical context, you could argue that there's only maybe two or three players in the history of the game that have been on a run, the one that Scottie's been on here for the last 24 to 36 months. Incredibly impressive.

Yeah, he's a very worthy winner. Also, he's a great person, and I think he's a wonderful ambassador for our game as well. I'm really happy for him and Meredith and his family.

Q. How special a homecoming, as the Grand Slam champion, has this been for you? The crowds sensational this week. I'm sure it was quite an emotional experience being part of this.

RORY McILROY: I tried as best as I could to keep my emotions in check, especially walking up the last there and that reception. Yeah, look, it's been an awesome week. I've gotten everything I wanted out of this week apart from a Claret Jug, and that's just because one person was just a little bit better than the rest of us.

It's been an amazing week, just the -- I feel so thankful and just so lucky that I get to do this, I get to do this in front of this crowd. Hopefully I'll have one or two Opens left here, if the R&A decide to keep coming back, probably one while I'm still competitive and another one while I'm more gray than I already am.

It's just been incredible to come back here and to play and at least feel like I had a chance today going out there. Just an awesome week.

Q. Both events here, Opens at Portrush, have been amazing sporting occasions. How hopeful are you that they can come back here very quickly?

RORY McILROY: Honestly, I think Portrush has quickly turned into one of the best two or three venues that The Open goes to. Talk to every player this week, and they won't say one single bad thing about the golf course.

Then I just think the way it sets up, from a logistical standpoint, I think the R&A have worked so well with the local government to make sure everything runs smoothly. Yeah, I hope so. It's only been six years since 2019. I'm not sure Portrush is going to have The Open every six years, that would be nice, but I would obviously love it to keep coming back.

Q. Have you ever tried so hard to just stay in the game when things weren't going great this week, and ending up tied 7th but having a chance all the way right up to the back nine on Sunday?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I feel like I try my hardest every time I play. I'm not going to try even harder here. If anything, that's probably to my detriment. I felt like I did well. 8, 9, and 10 today were the ones that killed me. Not that -- I was never going to get to 17-under, I don't think.

I could have maybe finished 2nd, which would have been better than where I did finish, but only making par off those tee shots on 8 and 9 and then the double off of 10 after the flier, that did me in. Then I just tried to play a good back nine and finish as well as I could.

Q. You're sharp again, Rory, like really sharp again, as we saw at the start of the year with the three wins. Do you feel that coming back?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I do, but I also had the three wins when Scottie wasn't quite on his game. But I do, I feel good. I feel like being back in Europe for a bit was a nice reset. Yeah, I feel like I'm getting back to where I want to be, and we've still got a lot of golf left this year with obviously Ryder Cup being the big one in there in September.

And just make sure I'm -- I don't want to play too much leading up to that because I want to be fresh. So I'm looking forward to a few weeks off here. I'll reflect on what's been already a good year and start to get myself ready for that run up to the Ryder Cup.

Q. You're one of just a few players in history to accomplish the Slam, but I'm curious what are your feelings watching Scottie go on a run like he has the past couple years?

RORY McILROY: Admiration. I think all you can do is admire what he does and how he does it. I think what he does is one thing, but how he does it is another. He just goes about his business, doesn't do anything overly flamboyant, but he's the best at executing in the game right now. Yeah, he's been absolutely amazing over these past two to three years. As I said, all you can do is tip your cap and watch in admiration.

Q. From a personal perspective, is it motivating or perhaps dispiriting to see Scottie when he's in form like this? Because he's been untouchable at times this week.

RORY McILROY: Neither. All I can do is focus on myself and try to play the best golf that I can. I know that, when I do that, I'll have my weeks where I'll contend and hopefully win.