Rory McIlroy has returned to competitive golf at the Scottish Open with a transformed approach to his career, revealing he now builds his schedule around life rather than the four major championships.
The Masters champion made his first UK appearance since his Augusta triumph in April, arriving at The Renaissance Club after a fortnight away from the sport.
"I think now at this stage of life that I'm at, I'm actually trying to build my schedule around those weeks instead of the other way around," McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday.
The Northern Irishman has not competed since the Travelers Championship last month.
Rory McIlroy has insisted he wants to spend more time with his daughter Poppy
REUTERSDuring his time away from competition, McIlroy has been settling his family into their new home on the Wentworth estate in Berkshire.
The 36-year-old explained his need for a complete break from professional golf.
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"I felt like I could hide," he said. "And sometimes you need that to completely get away."
McIlroy described how "this world of golf can become all encompassing if you let it" and emphasised his need to "hide away" for a couple of weeks.
He travelled to Scotland alongside European Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, with whom he discussed the importance of detaching from the "week-in, week-out grind" of tour life.
McIlroy's commitment to having "more fun" has manifested in numerous activities away from golf.
"One of my New Year's resolutions was to have more fun and I've really tried to do that," he revealed.
The world number two has taken daughter Poppy on a skiing holiday to Montana in February, where she is learning to ski.
Rory McIlroy revealed he is teaching his daughter to ski on holiday
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He also travelled with friends to watch Borussia Dortmund play Bayer Leverkusen in January, stopping in Istanbul en route to Dubai.
In May, McIlroy was spotted watching Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League Final in Bilbao, demonstrating his renewed focus on experiences beyond golf.
Looking ahead to next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush, McIlroy acknowledged the special significance of competing on home soil in Northern Ireland.
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"It's a little like Djokovic won the Olympics last year, he knew that was going to be his final chance, and you saw the emotion and you saw how much it meant to him," he said.
The Ulsterman identified future career ambitions beyond Portrush, stating: "I would love to win an Open at St Andrews.
"I would love to win a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. I'd love to win a PGA at PGA Frisco."
McIlroy admitted struggling to find motivation after completing his career Grand Slam at Augusta, even revealing he "did not care" about making the cut at May's PGA Championship.
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