“What happened there, Rory?” Amanda Balionis, a CBS Sports reporter, directly asked Rory McIlroy after his third round at the Scottish Open on July 12. The question was about his freshly shaved head, which had become a topic of intrigue among fans and commentators alike.
Balionis, 39, noted a change in McIlroy’s demeanor, suggesting that his new haircut might have contributed to a lighter spirit. “You seem a little lighter and it might be because of the haircut,” she remarked, prompting McIlroy to remove his hat for a closer look.
McIlroy first showcased his new hairstyle during a pro-am round on July 9. “You know, I’m getting a little gray, as everyone probably knows,” he admitted with a grin. “I stupidly thought that by going shorter, it would take the grays out. If anything, I think it makes me look more gray.”
Despite the unexpected outcome, McIlroy remained optimistic. “But it’ll grow back, that’s the good thing. It’ll be perfect length for the Ryder Cup in September,” he added, looking ahead to future competitions.
His performance at the Genesis Scottish Open was noteworthy; he finished tied for second place behind American Chris Gotterup. This strong showing came after a two-week break where McIlroy took time to mentally reset with his wife, Erica Stoll, and their daughter, Poppy.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth [England] and have been trying to settle in,” McIlroy explained. “It’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you.”
Reflecting on his time away from the course, he said, “Sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while. It’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year.”
Looking forward, McIlroy is set to compete in the 153rd Open Championship starting July 17 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. “When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was circled, even more so than the Masters,” he stated on July 14.
Earlier this year, McIlroy achieved a significant milestone by winning the Masters tournament for the first time, joining an elite group of golfers who have completed the career grand slam. “I’ve done something that I’ve told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it’s like I still feel like I have a lot more to give,” he expressed. “I still feel like there’s a lot left in there. The story certainly isn’t over.”
