Rory McIlroy expects a “tough test” at this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open as he looks to hit the front in The Race to Dubai.
The Northern Irishman tees off at Royal Aberdeen fourth in The Race to Dubai, but with the winner taking €627,020, the opportunity to dislodge Thomas Björn is there for the two-time Major winner.
“I think The Scottish Open in its own right is a very big event and assembled possibly one of the strongest field the it's ever had,” said McIlroy.
“I think I'm fourth in The Race to Dubai. It will be nice to contend here this week and push up there a little bit, try to get to the top of those rankings and go into The Open obviously next week with a bit of momentum.
“I'm expecting a tough test. It looks like it's going to be a tough golf course this week.
“I'd love to say I expect to get into contention and see how my game feels under pressure on this sort of golf course, but I'm just going to go out there and try and play the best that I can and just get used to playing a bit of links golf I think.
“I feel like my game's in good shape. I've been practicing a lot the last week or so on some of the shots that I might face this week and next and getting more and more comfortable with those, trying to keep the ball flight down a little bit.”
The former World Number One also insists he is looking forward to playing in the forecast bad weather in Scotland, while a scouting mission to Hoylake at the weekend boosted his confidence.
"You've got to relish the challenge," he added.
"I'm trying to adopt more of that mind-set, especially for these couple of weeks a year. It's not like I haven't played well on links courses before and in links conditions.
"Back when I was 15, 16, 17, playing links golf all the time, it wasn't anything to put your wet gear on and play whereas now we're so spoiled playing in great conditions. Any time there's a bit of rain in America it's a thunderstorm so you go in anyway."
