Rory McIlroy believes he is "as close as I've ever been" to claiming another Major Championship as he enters what could be a defining fortnight in his season.
The Northern Irishman came into 2023 as the reigning European Number One and FedEx Cup champion and made a perfect start to the calendar year with a first Rolex Series victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
That win has helped put him atop the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with seven worldwide top tens since his triumph at Emirates Golf Club.
He now arrives at The Renaissance Club for the Genesis Scottish Open looking for back-to-back Rolex Series wins but he also has an eye on the bigger picture, including next week's Open Championship and beyond.
"I'm as close as I've ever been, really," he said of his chances of a win next week at Royal Liverpool. "My consistency in the performances, especially in the Majors over the last couple years is way better than it has been over the last few years.
"So I'm really pleased at that but at the same time, having had a really good chance at St Andrews, having a really good chance in LA a few weeks ago, I need to keep putting myself in those positions.
"The more times I go through them, whether it be St Andrews or LA, and just gaining that experience. All of that stuff, even though I'm not getting the wins, it's going to stand by me for whenever I get myself in position again.
Wedge work with @McIlroyRory 💪#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/X4PENPlOmD
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 12, 2023
"It's now a co-sanctioned event with the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. I'm leading the Race to Dubai, up there in the FedExCup so it's also an opportunity to gain some points on both sides of the pond, looking towards the end of the year and trying to win the season-long titles on both sides again.
"I feel like I'm sort of killing a few birds with one stone this week."
