Rory McIlroys Open Championship prep spoiled by | Golf News

Rory McIlroy’s top-secret scouting journey to Royal Birkdale was unexpectedly uncovered by none other than Sir Nick Faldo in the lead-up to this week’s Open Championship.

The six-time major winner has been clear about his lowered match schedule this 12 months, competing in just 12 occasions in 2026.

Prior to the Masters in April, McIlroy – the reigning champion – made a number of visits to Augusta National to sharpen his sport and familiarize himself with the structure, a strategy he meant to replicate at Royal Birkdale.

However, his attempt to preserve secrecy was thwarted by Faldo, who coincidentally was at the venue concurrently.

The two-time Masters champion photographed the duo together and shared it on social media, an incident McIlroy jokingly referenced last week at the Scottish Open.

He said, “Birkdale was definitely just a scouting trip for The Open for sure. I would have liked to have not have it known that I was there but Faldo couldn’t put his phone away.

“I like Nick. In equity, he is great. I had a good time with him. He walked a few holes with me.”

For his part, Faldo maintains McIlroy never requested discretion about the visit, and joked the Northern Irishman would have been spotted eventually anyway.

“He ought to have just said to me, ‘Oi, I’m right here secretly. Can you put this out later?’ Of course I’d have accomplished that,” he told Today’s Golfer.

“But he did not, so that’s why I put it out – because all people needs to know every little thing. I imply there’s no method he can have a secret go to anyplace. A member will see him and go, ‘I say, I just noticed… was that Rory McIlroy?!'”

McIlroy is among the frontrunners at this week’s Open Championship, though his form dipped slightly at the Renaissance Club last week as Tom Kim claimed his fourth PGA Tour title.

McIlroy delivered an impressive final round of six-under, yet still finished five shots adrift of the South Korean.

The Northern Irishman has been candid about his intention to reduce his time on the course this season, prioritizing quality time with his family away from competitive golf.

He stated last week, “The advantages [of a relaxed schedule] are seeing my household more. Feeling like I’ve a bit more stability in my life.

“And then the challenge is, I feel like even though I have played pretty sparsely over the past few months, the starts of my tournaments have all been really good.

“So it isn’t like I’m coming in and beginning slow, and the little bit of additional follow I feel really helps in some methods.

“I think one of the other benefits for me, like I’m nearly 20 years into this, and I need to do everything I can to keep my enthusiasm as high as possible, and playing a lighter schedule definitely does that.”