Rory McIlroy makes Scottie Scheffler admission before The Open at Royal Birkdale

Rory McIlroy admits his pursuit of greatness is far from over despite completing the career Grand Slam last season, admitting World No.1 Scottie Scheffler's recent comments resonated with him as he prepares for next week's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

McIlroy arrives at The Open with a renewed sense of purpose after achieving his lifelong ambition of locking away all four majors. Having completed the career Grand Slam at The Masters in 2025 before successfully defending the Green Jacket earlier this year for his sixth major title, the Northern Irishman says he has realised there is always another goal to chase. 

Speaking after opening with a five-under-par 65 at the Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy explained how his ambitions continue to evolve.

"It's a very liberating feeling but again I can't get complacent," said McIlroy, who referenced comments made by Scheffler during last month's U.S. Open.

"I still need to set goals. Scottie talked about it at Shinnecock a couple weeks ago, like if he were to go win the Grand Slam, the goal posts move and you have to figure out what else you want to do.

"To me, I've said this a few times this year, I felt like the Grand Slam last year was the destination, and I realised it wasn't. It a continuous journey. It's a journey until you decide one day that you want to step off and do something else, but as long as I'm on this journey, there will always be goals to achieve."

Scheffler, 30, narrowly fell short in his attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at last month's U.S. Open, but McIlroy believes the American's comments about constantly resetting his goals perfectly reflect the mindset required to sustain success at the highest level.

At 37, McIlroy has also chosen to reduce his playing schedule to spend more time with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy, placing greater emphasis on achieving a healthier work-life balance while continuing to compete for golf's biggest prizes.

His approach appeared to pay immediate dividends on Thursday as he fired a bogey-free 65 at The Renaissance Club to move into an early share of the lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, an event he won in 2023.

McIlroy, like other PGA Tour stars including Scheffler, is using this week's tournament as his final competitive preparation before heading to Royal Birkdale, where he will attempt to lift the Claret Jug for a second time following his Open triumph at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

The six-time major champion also revealed earlier this week that he had hoped to keep a recent practice visit to Royal Birkdale under wraps before Sir Nick Faldo accidentally revealed the scouting trip.

"I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there but Faldo couldn't put his phone away," McIlroy told reporters.

McIlroy said caddie Harry Diamond accompanied him for the one-day reconnaissance visit before jokingly adding: "I love Nick. In fairness, he's great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me."

A win at Royal Birkdale next week would provide McIlroy with a seventh major title, moving him level with Harry Vardon for the most major victories by a European golfer.

Scheffler will look to become the first player to successfully defend the Claret Jug since Padraig Harrington in 2008.

The World No.1 is going in pursuit of a fifth career major title and his first of the season.