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No matter what Rory McIlroy shoots or how he handles the media spotlight, one thing that remains untouchable is his career Grand Slam. It took 11 years for the Northern Irish man to finally break through.

A journey that also included the birth of his daughter Poppy, now 4 years old, and countless near-misses.

But in April 2025, McIlroy finally slipped on the green jacket at Augusta National, becoming just the sixth man in history to win all four golf majors.

And this week, as he prepared for the Genesis Scottish Open, the PGA Tour made sure that moment didn’t go unnoticed.

NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND – JULY 08: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the driving range prior to the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 08, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland…. NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND – JULY 08: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the driving range prior to the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 08, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) More Getty Images

While practicing on the range at The Renaissance Club, McIlroy was surprised with a custom persimmon wood, an old-school club with a modern twist.

“This is for you, boss man,” said Sky Sports Golf’s John Morgan, handing over the gift.

Rory’s face lit up instantly as he admired the beige head cover, embroidered with a red poppy, a nod to his daughter, and surrounded by the years of his first major wins.

From his breakthrough at the 2011 U.S. Open, where he dominated with a record-setting win over Jason Day, to the 2012 PGA Championship victory, the 2014 Open Championship and finally the emotional crescendo of the 2025 Masters, it had all the details.

“Lovely,” McIlroy smiled, turning the club in his hands. The persimmon wood featured a green tapline, which caught his eye.

“Oh, a green tapline, good man,” he said. “Come on man, we had to do that,” replied the official, referencing the color of Northern Ireland’s flag and McIlroy’s Masters triumph.

The base of the club mirrored the head cover’s design, and Rory couldn’t help but admire it again: “Look at that.”

“I could have played in any era.” @McIlroyRory was gifted a persimmon club to commemorate his career Grand Slam. pic.twitter.com/bT9OQAbYHB — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2025

Then, in true Rory fashion, he stepped up and absolutely smashed a shot down the range.

“That was absolutely smoked,” said Morgan, as the ball soared through the Scottish sky.

Rory twirled the club and grinned. “I could have played in any era,” he joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.

This moment wasn’t just about nostalgia for the green jacket winner but a celebration. McIlroy’s Grand Slam came after 21 top-10 finishes in majors since his last win in 2014.

With the Open Championship at Royal Portrush just a week away, the timing of the gift couldn’t have been more perfect.

And for fans who’ve followed every twist of his journey, that persimmon wood wasn’t just a club. It was a symbol of everything Rory McIlroy has fought for, and finally achieved.

McIlroy will tee off in the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open on Thursday at 8:43 a.m. ET alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.

More Golf: Adam Hadwin’s wife, Jessica, has 48 reasons why PGA Tour life is the best

PGA Tour Makes Historic Xander Schauffele Announcement During Scottish Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Xander Schauffele carded a solid second round of 4-under par, taking his total to 134 after two rounds at the Scottish Open. He is tied in the 10th spot along with Victor Perez and others.

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After his play on Friday, the PGA Tour made a historic announcement regarding Schauffele’s long-standing streak. With his current score, he will make the cut for the 68th time since the 2022 Masters.

This 68th straight cut puts him in the league of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson and others.

“Schauffele’s 68 straight made cuts is the longest active streak on TOUR and sixth-longest streak in TOUR history (Tiger Woods/142; Byron Nelson/113; Jack Nicklaus/105; Hale Irwin/86; Dow Finsterwald/72).” PGA Tour posted on X.

Tiger Woods (left) shakes hands with Xander Schauffele after finishing the first round of the Masters.

After capturing his first Scottish Open title in 2022, Schauffele enters this week in strong form despite battling a rib injury earlier this season, posting a T15 finish here in 2024.

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Also, Rory McIlroy is finally playing up to his reputation at the Renaissance Club. Back close to home, after completing his career Grand Slam, he posted a 5-under 65, claiming the fifth spot with a score of 7-under overall.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I did a lot of good things today,” he said, headinginto the weekend. “Still a couple of loose shots here and there but overall I thought it was a good day and obviously excited for the weekend right in the thick of things, in contention going into the last two days.”

Related: PGA Tour Golfer Abruptly Withdraws During First Round at Scottish Open

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

The Genesis Scottish Open seems to have found an identity and a home after more than 50 years of uncertain history.

The tournament, taking place from July 10 to 13, will be held at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick for the seventh consecutive year. It’s a co-sanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour event for the fourth year in a row.

The tournament began in 1972 and appears to have struggled to maintain a presence in the same country as Open Championship venues, such as St. Andrews, Carnoustie, and Troon. Genesis is its seventh title sponsor and the Renaissance Club is the 11th venue.

Settling in the week before the Open (and as the last chance to qualify for the season’s final major championship) and the support of the world’s two major professional tours seems to have boosted the prestige of the Scottish Open. The best players have long since taken notice and eight of the top 10 on the current World Golf Rankings are in the field, led by Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.

McIlroy and Schauffele won Scottish Opens at the Renaissance Club. MacIntyre became the first native Scot to win his country’s Open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

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Scottish Open favorites, odds

Bet MGM, as usual when Scottie Scheffler has been in the field any given week, is going with the world’s No. 1-ranked player. Scheffler is +450 on the moneyline, followed by McIlroy (+900), Schauffele (+2000) and Tommy Fleetwood (+2200).

Other Scottish Open odds:

Collin Morikawa +2500

Ludvig Aberg +2500

Robert MacIntyre +2500

Justin Thomas +3300

Adam Scott +4500

J.J. Spaun +6000

Scottish Open picks

Rory McIlroy: Did someone say slump? Okay, he hasn’t exactly followed up his Masters and Players victories with a hot summer and everyone wondered about a horrid performance in missing the cut in Canada. But in six starts since winning at Augusta, McIlroy has four top-20 finishes and tied for sixth at the Travelers Championship in his last outing. He’s won and finished tied for fourth in his two Scottish Open starts at the Renaissance. The only issue is how heavily playing the Open next week in his home country will be weighing on him. But really, can it be more pressure than trying to close out the career Grand Slam?

Robert MacIntyre: His performances at the Renaissance Club don’t lie. MacIntyre has won and finished second in his two starts and seems to thrive on the pressure of playing in his home country’s national open. He’s also trending: his runner-up finish in the U.S. Open is part of a stretch in which he’s got four top-20 finishes and two top 10s in his last five starts.

Tommy Fleetwood: He hasn’t played since his 72nd-hole collapse at the Travelers but Fleetwood is returning to a place where he’s had some success, with ties for sixth and fourth in the last two years.

Past Scottish Open winners

2024: Robert MacIntyre

2023: Rory McIlroy

2022: Xander Schauffele

2021: Mi Woo Lee

2020: Aaron Rai

2019: Bernd Wiesberger

2018: Brandon Stone

2017: Rafa Cabrera-Bello

2016: Alex Noren

2015: Rickie Fowler

2014: Justin Rose

2013: Phil Mickelson

2012: Jeev Milkha Singh

2011: Luke Donald

2010: Edoardo Molinari

2009: Martin Kaymer

2008: Graeme McDowell

2007: Grégory Havret

2006: Johan Edfors

2005: Tim Clark

2004: Thomas Levet

2003: Ernie Els

2002: Eduardo Romero

2001: Retief Goosen

2000: Ernie Els

1999: Colin Montgomerie

1998: Lee Westwood

1997: Tom Lehman

1996: Thomas Bjørn

1996: Ian Woosnam

1995: Wayne Riley

1994: Carl Mason

1993: Jesper Parnevik

1992: Peter O’Malley

1991: Craig Parry

1990: Ian Woosnam

1989: Michael Allen

1988: Barry Lane

1987: Ian Woosnam

1986: David Feherty

1974-1985: No tournament

1973: Graham Marsh

1972: Neil Coles

PGA Tour winners this season

The Sentry: Hideki Matsuyama

Sony Open: Nick Taylor

American Express: Sepp Straka

Farmers Insurance Open: Harris English

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Rory McIlroy

WM Phoenix Open: Thomas Detry

Genesis Invitational: Ludvig Aberg

Mexico Open: Brian Campbell

Cognizant Classic: Joe Highsmith

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Russell Henley

Puerto Rico Open: Karl Vilips

The Players Championship: Rory McIlroy

Valspar Championship: Viktor Hovland

Texas Children’s Houston Open: Min Woo Lee

Valero Texas Open: Brian Harman

The Masters: Rory McIlroy

RBC Heritage: Justin Thomas

Corales Puntacana Championship: Garrick Higgo

Zurich Classic: Andrew Novak-Ben Griffin

CJ Cup Byron Nelson: Scottie Scheffler

Truist Championship: Sepp Straka

ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic: Ryan Fox

PGA Championship: Scottie Scheffler

Schwab Challenge: Ben Griffin

The Memorial: Scottie Scheffler

RBC Canadian Open: Ryan Fox

U.S. Open: J.J. Spaun

Travelers Championship: Keegan Bradley

Rocket Classic: Aldrich Potgieter

The DP World Tour and PGA TOUR today announced a multi-year agreement with Genesis to continue as title partner of the Genesis Scottish Open through 2030. The extension renews Genesis’ commitment to Scotland’s historic national open, the Rolex Series event which in 2022 became the first-ever tournament to be co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre returns to defend his title in North Berwick at The Renaissance Club Thursday, July 10. In 2024, MacIntyre sunk a 22-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole to beat Adam Scott by one stroke, becoming the first Scot to win his home open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

“Golf and Genesis share the same values: respect, integrity and excellence. Both demand attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality,” said José Muñoz, President & CEO of Genesis. “Renewing the Genesis Scottish Open through 2030 is a natural extension of our commitment to the game of golf and the communities it helps around the world. Following our recent designation as the PGA TOUR’s first-ever Official Automotive and Mobility Partner, this tournament reinforces our role in shaping the future of golf through innovation, hospitality and global partnership. As our brand continues to grow globally, the Genesis Scottish Open remains a cornerstone of our efforts to build meaningful connections with fans and elevate the sport at every level.”

The Genesis Scottish Open dates to 1972 and has been a permanent fixture on the DP World Tour schedule since 1986. As both a FedExCup event and part of the Rolex Series on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, the tournament features a split field of 75 players from both the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, with additional spots to leading players from the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA), in a nod to Genesis’ Korean heritage.

The Renaissance Club is set to host the event for the seventh consecutive year, during a period of continued growth and development of all aspects of the tournament, with MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy (2023) and Xander Schauffele (2022) winning the tournament as a co-sanctioned event. Other past champions at The Renaissance Club include Min Woo Lee (2021) and Aaron Rai (2020).

“Genesis continues to be an incredible partner to the game of golf worldwide and they have been pivotal in growing the Genesis Scottish Open into one of the world’s premier tournaments” said Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour. “We have once again welcomed a star-studded field to the impressive venue here at Renaissance Club this week and this long-term agreement allows us to develop ambitious plans to further elevate the tournament in every way, alongside Genesis and our Strategic Alliance partners at the PGA TOUR.”

The PGA TOUR and Genesis have been partners since 2016, when the luxury automotive brand signed on as the title sponsor of the historic The Genesis Invitational, hosted by Tiger Woods at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, one of the TOUR’s longest running events. Following several successful seasons, Genesis added title sponsorship of the Genesis Scottish Open to its portfolio starting in 2022, the first co-sanctioned event by the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. The brand is also a founding partner and official automotive partner of TGL and has served as the Official Automobile Sponsor of numerous Presidents Cups.

“The PGA TOUR is proud to continue our growing relationship with Genesis, as the globally recognised brand renews its commitment to the Scottish Open just a few weeks removed from a new global marketing partnership that included sponsorship of the World Feed, which is actively promoting the TOUR’s international stars,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Scotland’s national open continues to reach new heights after Robert MacIntyre’s electrifying win a season ago, and we are eager to continue elevating this premier event to a global audience alongside our Strategic Alliance partners at the DP World Tour.”

Genesis’ relationship with the DP World Tour also includes its title partnership of the Genesis Championship in Korea. The tournament, co-sanctioned with the KPGA, takes a prime position on the Race to Dubai schedule as the final event on the ‘Back 9’ – a series of nine tournaments before the season-ending Playoffs that encompass several of the DP World Tour’s most historic tournaments and national Opens.

Last month, the PGA TOUR and Genesis also announced a new Global Official Marketing Partnership that named the luxury brand the Official Vehicle of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions and an Official Mobility Partner of the PGA TOUR. As part of launching the multi-year agreement, through 2030, Genesis also became the first-ever sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s World Feed, a milestone underscoring the brand’s global presence.

Rory McIlroy cracked up reporters by saying what many of us were thinking after he smoked an old-school golf club on the range ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

Unlike four years ago when McIlroy had a golf club stolen from his bag by a spectator, this time around he was being presented with a new one.

Former PGA Tour pro and now Sky Sports Golf on-course commentator John E. Morgan handed McIlroy a special persimmon wood to celebrate his career grand slam.

McIlroy, 36, became the sixth male in history to achieve golf immortality at The Masters in April.

It marked his fifth career major title and also his 29th victory on the PGA Tour.

“This is for you boss man,” said Morgan as he handed the club to McIlroy.

After receiving his new retro club, McIlroy admired it, twirled it and then struck it.

In fact he crushed it.

“Oh, mate… that is absolutely smoked,” said Morgan as McIlroy’s TaylorMade TP5 sailed through the Scottish sky.

While we don’t have the exact Trackman numbers for the shot, it was an absolute bullet that travelled straight and true.

Go on then Rory, we’ll let you say it…

“I could have played in any era,” said McIlroy, to a cry of laughter from reporters on the range at The Renaissance Club.

Watch what happened below (scroll right to see the full video):

McIlroy lines up as the second favourite to win a second Genesis Scottish Open this week.

The Genesis Scottish Open is a co-sanctioned event on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

Despite not seeming too interested in competing at The Renaissance Club some four years ago, McIlroy has most certainly enjoyed his time on the North Berwick links the past two years with a victory in 2023 followed by a tie for fourth in 2024.

McIlroy is seeking a second Scottish Open

Runaway World No.1 Scottie Scheffler starts a warm favourite for a first Scottish Open this Sunday.

Both Scheffler and McIlroy are seeking a fourth win on the PGA Tour in 2025.

McIlroy is out with Viktor Hovland and 2022 Scottish Open champion Xander Schauffele for the opening two rounds.

Scheffler joins defending champion Robert MacIntyre and Australia’s Adam Scott for Thursday and Friday’s action.

Check out our golf betting tips for the Genesis Scottish Open