Rory makes a Scots date

Rory MCILROY will play in next month’s Scottish open for the first time in three years as he bids to make up for lost time following his rib injury. It’s a massive boost for the event to have the game’s biggest star on board and means the 28-year-old will be playing in tournaments in his native Northern Ireland,

Scotland and England in July. On the eve of his latest comeback at the US Open, McIlroy confirmed he will be at Dundonald. ‘I’m definitely going to play the Scottish and it completes a great links run for me with the Irish Open at Royal Portstewart and The Open at Birkdale,’ enthused McIlroy. ‘I don’t know much about Dundonald other than it’s near Troon, but I’m looking forward to getting the boat from Larne and being able to drive there.’ What might also have influenced McIlroy’s decision is the fact that when he last played in the Scottish, at Royal Aberdeen in 2014, it prefaced a memorable run that saw him win his next three tournaments — including The Open and the USPGA. He hasn’t contested a major since. Also confirmed for the Scottish Open are Open Champion Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Australian Adam Scott and defending champion Alex Noren. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Martin Laird (below) believes he now has enough experience contesting the majors that it is about time he started knocking a little louder on the door to the game’s greatest rewards. This week is Laird’s sixth US Open since making his debut in 2006 at Oakmont with his best result being tied for 21st behind Justin Rose in 2013 at Merion. Laird, however, now boasts 19 major appearances ensuring the 34-year old is one of the more experienced in the Erin Hills field not to have won one of golf’s most hallowed prizes. And having got a first look at the course alongside Lee Westwood, the Scot liked what he saw. ‘It is way different to any other US Open course I have played,’ said Laird. ‘I did not play Chambers Bay a few years back, but it’s just different in terms of the fairways, which are very generous. If you miss them, though, you are in trouble. ‘They are just not the tight fairways we come to expect from a US Open venue, but then you do not want to be in the rough as it is pretty thick out there. If you lose a ball two yards off the fairway, you are in serious trouble.’ Laird made the Erin Hills field by successfully qualifying in Columbus, Ohio, a day after horror weekend rounds of 75 and 78 to finish well down in The Memorial. ‘I was very chuffed to qualify as anytime you are competing in a major, you must be doing something right,’ he said. ‘I’ve also won three big tournaments out here on the PGA Tour, so it is not as though I do not know how

to win.’