PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The wonders of modern private jet travel undoubtedly helped, but Rory McIlroy still didn’t have a lot of time after holing his final putt at the Scottish Open early Sunday evening and arriving on the first tee Monday morning at Royal Portrush.
Getting started early to beat the crowds—and the rain—McIlroy teed off at 7 a.m. local time and played the site of this week’s British Open by himself. Although he had just four hours of sleep, he found it an ideal way to prepare for the 153rd playing of the Open, which begins Thursday.
