Back in May, the golf world was greatly taken aback when Paige Spiranac did not pick Rory McIlroy as one of the top contenders for the PGA Championship title. The 30-year-old beauty was greatly apprehensive of his chances at the major. After all, ahead of the tournament, McIlroy had missed back-to-back cuts at the Players Championship and the Masters, followed by another not-so-memorable appearance at Quail Hollow.
However, the Irishman ended up doing exceedingly well at Oak Hill, scripting a T7 finish. Since then, the World No. 3 has had four top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at the US Open. To make things even better, Spiranac’s confidence in McIlroy’s skills seems to have made a comeback as well. Let’s dive in to find out more!
Paige Spiranac voices her support for Rory McIlroy ahead of DP World Tour-PGA Tour event
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The Genesis Scottish Open is just hours away from kicking off at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. The tournament serves as the last stop before the Open Championship, with many of the world’s biggest players making an appearance every year.
It’s no different this time around, either. The stacked field at the tournament’s 2023 edition features eight of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), including Rory McIlroy! Given his recent string of successful outings, McIlroy is a heavy favorite to win the Scottish Open. Even the golf world’s darling Paige Spiranac has extended her support to the 34-year-old as part of her top picks for the event!
Picks for Scottish Open! Who do you like? pic.twitter.com/YriMcWDAkO
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) July 10, 2023
“I said I would never pick him again for a major after he has broken my heart one too many times,” shared Spiranac. “So why not pick him for the Scottish Open?” Golfers Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, and Rickie Fowler are also among Spiranac’s favorites for the title this year.
Since 2011, the Scottish Open has been staged at traditional links set-up, offering players some last-minute preparation before the Open Championship. McIlroy, who last won a major nearly a decade ago, will definitely want to register an impressive performance this week before heading up to Hoylake.
How has Rory McIlroy fared at the Scottish Open so far?
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This year, Rory McIlroy will be making his eighth appearance at the Genesis Scottish Open, which is now being co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. He sat out the event’s 2022 edition, which World No. 6 Xander Schauffele won. McIlroy’s best Scottish Open outing had come in 2014 at Royal Aberdeen when he tied for 14th position. The week after, he won at the Open Championship, the last time the Royal Liverpool Club in Hoylake had hosted the major.
This is the fifth consecutive time that the Renaissance Club is hosting the Scottish Open. This year, the field will be competing for a $9 million prize purse, out of which the winner will take home an incredible $1.62 million!
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Watch This Story: ‘Slip Up or Make a Mistake’: Rory McIlroy Reveals His Mindset During the Heartbreaking Match
Do you think Rory McIlroy can finally get a win this week after his recent near-misses? Will he put an end to his major drought next week? Tell us in the comments!