Straight talking down the middle

RORY McILROY is making the correct and logical step by adding the Scottish Open to his diary for 2014.

Rory made a few mistakes last year and not playing at Castle Stuart the week before The Open was one of his biggest.

His game hadn’t been tested in links conditions and after rounds of 79 and 75 at Muirfield, he didn’t hang around for the weekend.

But Rory seems to be learning from his mistakes. He’s already put in a few more events and his golf has benefitted.

As for coming to Scotland in July, it’s about time he won a tournament in these parts.

It’s no coincidence that the last three winners of The Open have all played in the Scottish Open the week before.

Obviously, Phil Mickelson brought that into sharper focus by winning both the Scottish and The Open in two golden weeks last summer.

Phil was acclimatising for Muirfield by playing at Castle Stuart. Winning was a lovely added bonus.

It was a big help, though, as he adjusted to the conditions, played in the wind and worked on special shots for the following week.

Phil’s efforts should convince other stars to come over early from America.

The guys who play on the PGATour in the week before, then fly over once the event finishes, are giving themselves little chance to succeed.

This year, Royal Aberdeen promises to be even better preparation.

It’s a classic links course — straight out and straight back in.

Rory will get a Royal welcome from Aberdeen

With bouncy fairways and fast greens, it’s archetypal seaside golf and it’s a great move by the European Tour to go there.

I just wish there had been a links tournament the week beforeThe Open when I was on Tour.

We had the French Open, which I was lucky enough to win in 1979 in Lyon, but that was on a parkland course slap bang in the middle of France!

I was better off financially but not as prepared for the demands of The Open as someone like Tom Watson.

Everyone thought he was on holiday, but he was getting ready for the biggest week of the year with serious practice at courses like Ballybunion in the West of Ireland and Royal Dornoch.

It’s often forgotten that TigerWoods has never done as well as The Open since he stopped flying over early and playing a few rounds in Ireland with pal Mark O’Meara.

Playing on a links in the Scottish Open is a nobrainer.

Good for the players, good for the tournament — and great news for Scottish golf fans.

n Phil Mickelson and his family celebrate his victory at Castle Stuart last year. A week later they were congratulating him on winning The Open at Muirfield.