Rory McIlroy takes cheeky dig at Sir Nick Faldo: "In fairness, he's great"

Rory McIlroy has revealed he wanted to keep his recent reconnaissance trip to Royal Birkdale ahead of The Open a secret.

The Masters champion decided to skip the Travelers Championship a week after the U.S. Open so he could visit the Southport venue. 

McIlroy had a chance encounter with Sir Nick Faldo, who was doing some work for Sky Sports.

Faldo interviewed the 37-year-old, asking about his preparation for the final major of 2026 and his views on the changes made to the course.

"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 on Wednesday ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open. 

McIlroy said his caddie, Harry Diamond, joined him for the one-day trip. 

"I love Nick," he added. "In fairness, he's great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me."

Royal Birkdale decided to make a number of enhancements ahead of the 154th Open. 

A new par-three awaits the 156-man field and McIlroy believes the 15th will be a big talking point across the championship. 

McIlroy said he's "undecided" on whether he likes the new hole. 

"I'll have to play it a bit more," he said. "I only played it once. 

"There may be a couple of holes locations on the green where the hole is a little bit too long for those hole locations. 

"Like it's maybe a little bit silly to be hitting a three-iron into some of them.

"But if they moved up the tee box where you're hitting like a six or seven iron in, it's good. 

"But it's going to be an interesting hole. I think it's going to be a big talking point during the week."

McIlroy issues warning to PGA Tour over national opens

In June, PGA Tour boss Brian Rolapp outlined several structural changes that will be rolled out from 2028. 

The North American circuit will be split into two tiers, with a Championship and Challenger Series. 

It has been speculated that some national opens, such as the RBC Canadian Open, could be part of the top tier. 

If that were the case, entries could be closed off for some PGA Tour members. 

"We've got to be careful with that because then these national opens lose the fabric of what they are," said McIlroy. 

"You can't call yourself a national open anymore if it's a closed off tournament and there's a certain number much guys.

"I think these events need to be treated differently than, you know, the Travelers Championship or RBC Heritage or whatever else that are going to be in the Champions Series. 

"These tournaments need to have ... there's a little bit more nuance with these tournaments for sure."

McIlroy welcomes back Jon Rahm

Several LIV Golf players are in the field for the Genesis Scottish Open. 

Jon Rahm is making his first start on the PGA Tour since his switch to LIV Golf in 2022 as the Rolex Series event is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour. 

McIlroy was once one of LIV's harshest critics but has been calling for unity since for several years. 

Last year, McIlroy told reporters before the Genesis Scottish Open that "everyone's just got to get over" the disruption in the men's game and "reunification is the best thing for everyone". 

"I've talked about wanting to have just all of the best players in the world play together," he said. 

He added:  "Having Jon in this event is better for the event than him not being here, and obviously everyone else that's here, as well. 

"That's a good thing."

McIlroy will play the first two rounds of the Genesis Scottish Open alongside home favourite Robert MacIntyre and the defending champion Chris Gotterup.