GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 10, 2026

Rory McIlroy

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You've had a 65, verdict on your day's play?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I thought I played well again. You know, the wind definitely got up for us in the afternoon. We got off to a really nice start.

Then sort of by the turn the wind had got to hits strongest and felt like it was hard to get the ball close to the pins and we were all making a lot of pars out there.

Yeah, it would have been nice to be a couple better. But you know, it's obviously another good day and in good position.

Q. Is this a course you can take risks?

RORY McILROY: Not really. Some depending on the wind direction the course plays differently depending on the wind direction. You can more aggressive off some tees but less aggressive off others. I think we have this wind for the rest of the week so definitely played a bit different but feels like you stride to make your score in the front nine on this wind.

Q. How much imagination do you need to unlock this links golf?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it's great it's the way you want to play links golf and the weather -- you can be creative the way you play your second shots into greens and how you run into the fairway. It's a fun way to play.

Q. How excited contend at a championship you've had so much success already?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, a I great weekend. Bob, getting himself on the back nine into contention for the home contingent. Yeah, excited for the opportunity.

Q. Fun to watch, pretty magical with that lob-wedge. Best club decision of the year?

RORY McILROY: Could be. That's the thing, I came away from Shinnecock knowing that I needed something different for that firm turf that we had at the weekend at the U.S. Open and getting here and being in The Open Championship.

The wedge, it's been really good so far. A couple shots that I've played that if I had my old wedge in the bag, I wouldn't have been able to play.

Q. Felt like when you made the turn, the whole group had momentum and then there was a change in the golf course.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, once we turned for home the wind got its strongest for the day and it was hard to hit it close. Quite a lot of crosswinds. We couldn't reach the par 5, 12th hole. The drivable par 4, 14, was obviously a good opportunity.

But that really felt like the only realistic opportunity on the back nine. Felt like I did well to hang on. Maybe could have been one or two better but overall it was a good day.

Q. Looked like you were seeing the line and feeling comfortable. Are you feeling as relaxed as it looks to the rest of us?

RORY McILROY: I like these greens. I see the lines pretty well. The reads are quite obvious compared to maybe some other links courses that are a little more subtle. I got my eye in early and held some nice putts and continued that for the rest of the day.

Q. Halfway point, how would you compare the two sides?

RORY McILROY: I felt as the day went on conditions were getting a little more difficult. Definitely felt like I day where you need your score on the front nine and you held on on the back and there's a couple opportunities on the back nine, 12 and the drivable 14 and that felt like the only chances on the back nine; it was playing pretty tough. The wind got up even on the downwind holes and it was hard to hit it really close to the hole. I would have liked to have been a couple better on the back nine but overall a really solid day and in good position.

Q. All three of you played well. Were you feeding off each other?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think so. Chris got off to a great start, as did I. Bob got off to a bit of a slow start but started to I can approximate up around the turn. It's nice when you have a group playing well together.

Bob, obviously home contingent were clearing for him pretty well. Great to play with him and Bob is up there this weekend, which is great.

Q. Halfway point, what are you committed to?

RORY McILROY: Just the same things. Make a couple of shots today that I wasn't fully committed on, the tee shot on 13. But yeah, the tee shot on 13, I took relief from that. Overall play has been pretty solid. Trusting what I'm doing in practice and.