Rory speaks out.
Rory McIlroy, 36, Reflects on Underappreciated Value Ahead of Genesis Scottish Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Media activities are officially underway ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, where Rory McIlroy once again finds himself under the spotlight.
In his Wednesday press conference, McIlroy touched on a theme he believes is underappreciated across all sports: longevity.
"Like you look at what Novak Djokovic is doing at Wimbledon over the last couple of weeks, or what someone like Cristiano Ronaldo is still doing at 40 years old, or a Tom Brady in American football. That longevity piece, I think, is something that maybe isn't talked about enough because once you get to a certain level… it takes just as much work, if not more work, to stay there."
He added that adapting his game as he ages has become critical to remaining competitive against younger stars such as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“I think it’s one of the under appreciated things about any sport.”
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) July 9, 2025
Rory McIlroy talked about why being elite into your 40s is so hard, citing Novak Djokovic’s performance at Wimbledon.
He mentions he didn’t even know who Scottie Scheffler was during his run in 2014. 😅 pic.twitter.com/C5iBUzPYNW
Since turning professional in 2007, McIlroy has amassed 44 professional victories, including 29 on the PGA Tour and 19 on the European Tour.
He's captured five major championships in that time, including the U.S. Open (2011), The Open Championship (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014) and, most recently, the Masters Tournament, a win that completed the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy previously won the Scottish Open in 2023, finished fourth in 2024 and is one of the favorites to win this year's title.
This week’s event kicks off on Thursday with a field of 156 players competing for a $9 million purse, with the winner slated to pocket approximately $1.53 million.
The roster, headlined by Scheffler, McIlroy, two‑time major winner Xander Schauffele and defending champion Robert MacIntyre, promises a lot of drama and buildup for next week's Open Championship.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
