If golf had a reset button, Rory McIlroy just tried to hit it — with a pair of clippers.
That’s right, the four-time major winner and newly crowned Masters champion is switching things up ahead of this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. And we’re not just talking about his swing mechanics or putter grip.
No, Rory went with something a little more… visible. Out goes the signature mop of curls, in comes a shorter, sharper cut that’s got fans doing double-takes — and revealing a bit more salt-and-pepper than we’re used to seeing on the 36-year-old’s head.
But this isn’t just about hair. This is about momentum. And right now, Rory could use some.
After slipping on the green jacket for the first time back in April — completing his career Grand Slam in storybook fashion — the fairytale hasn’t exactly continued. He looked solid at the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry, sure. Picked up a top-ten at the Truist.
But then came the bumps: a stumble outside the top 40 at the PGA Championship, a missed cut at the Canadian Open (ouch), a top-20 at Oakmont, and a T-6 at the Travelers. Respectable, but far from dominant.
Now, with one final major looming at Royal Portrush — his home turf — Rory seems to be chasing more than a title. He’s chasing that spark, that flow, that magic that carried him through Augusta. And maybe, just maybe, a fresh look brings fresh energy.
Let’s not forget the last time The Open was held at Portrush in 2019, it was a disaster. He carded a brutal 79 in the opening round and missed the cut entirely — on home soil. That left a sting that even his usual charm couldn’t mask.
So here we are. A week out from golf’s oldest major. Rory McIlroy is showing some grey, rocking a new cut, and maybe — just maybe — starting a new chapter.
Because when you’re Rory, sometimes shaking things up on the outside is just the beginning of finding something new within.
