McIlroy taking ‘positive vibes’ into pre-Open break

Rory McIlroy says he’s “excited” to take a break before the Royal Portrush Open Championship in July.

The 36-year-old did well over the weekend to place in a tie for sixth place in the Travelers Championship, but he won’t play until the Scottish Open on July 10 or 13, a week before Portrush’s final significant return.

After winning the Masters and winning his first career Grand Slam in April, the world number two from Northern Ireland feels he did not take enough time out of the sport.

After winning the emotional match at Augusta and the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, McIlroy and Shane Lowry tied for seventh place in the Zurich Classic, and he and he were back in action just 10 days later.

At the US PGA Championship and US Open, he then cut a frustrated figure.

It will just be better for me mentally to take a little break and return to my neck of the woods, he said, “more so than anything else.”

I’m excited for that, and I’ve already mentioned that I probably haven’t had enough time to reflect on what transpired in April.

McIlroy shot a better round than his 65 on Sunday, while McIlroy’s winner, Keegan Bradley, shot a better round than McIlroy’s, who finished three shots back of him for sixth place overall.

It was a good way to wrap up the week, McIlroy said, “kind of good, positive vibes going into a couple of weeks’ break here to get ready for Scotland and The Open.”