When Rory McIlroy tees off Thursday at the Scottish Open, he’ll be doing so with more than just a fresh cut.
The reigning Masters champion unveiled a shorter hairstyle Wednesday at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, following a restful few weeks at his new London-area home, where he took “time to reflect” and “rekindle [his] excitement” for the sport.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth and been since trying to settle in and it’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you, and sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while,” McIlroy said, according to The Telegraph.
“Yeah, it’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year. Obviously we have this week in Scotland and then a massive week next week [for the Open] in Portrush.”
Since capturing golf’s Grand Slam in April, when he celebrated at Augusta National alongside wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy, McIlroy’s post-Masters victory lap has been anything but smooth.
As the PGA Championship got underway in May, the Northern Irishman found himself at the center of controversy when his top driver was deemed non-conforming, forcing him to make a switch.
He declined to speak with the media, a trend that continued into the first round of the U.S. Open in June.
When McIlroy did speak to the media at Oakmont, he offered uninspired remarks about his play.
“I was sort of thinking, ‘Do I really want two more days here or not?’ So, it makes it easier to play better when you’re in that mindset,” said McIlroy, who finished at 7-over par.
During Wednesday’s outing at The Renaissance Club, McIlroy was seen greeting fans, signing autographs and smiling at the podium.
Being back on his side of the pond has done wonders for his emotional health.
“There’s a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here and Justin and I were talking about that,” McIlroy recalled of a conversation he had with his Masters playoff opponent, Englishman Justin Rose.
“You play PGA Tour golf for the first 25, 30 weeks of the year and you need to completely get away from it — because this world of golf can become all-encompassing. In this last fortnight, I felt like I could detach and sort of hide in a way. I needed that. My game needed that.”
McIlroy tied for fourth at the Scottish Open last July.
He’s set to compete in the fourth and final major of the year next week with The Open at Royal Portrush.
Xander Schauffele is the defending Open champion.
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