Rory McIlroy hoping to travel well in Connecticut as The Open looms

Rory McIlroy hopes this week’s Travelers Championship proves less of a grind as the Masters champion looks to get back into the groove ahead of The Open.

It has not been the smoothest of returns to action for the Northern Irishman following his Augusta triumph in April, which completed a long-awaited career Grand Slam.

The 36-year-old saw his driver ruled as ‘non-conforming’ ahead of last month’s PGA Championship before he missed the cut at the Canadian Open.

It was also tough going for McIlroy at the US Open over a punishing Oakmont course, where he battled to make it into the weekend before eventually tying for 19th.

McIlroy, though, played his best golf of the week during Sunday’s final round, where his three-under-par 67 was the joint best of the day.

After playing at the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Connecticut, McIlroy will head back to the UK for a break before the Scottish Open and then mount his challenge for another Open crown at Royal Portrush in County Antrim.

With plenty of background noise having again followed him at Oakmont, McIlroy hopes to be able to stay focused on the job in hand at the the final PGA Tour Signature Event of the season.

50 days until The Open returns to Royal Portrush.

History awaits. pic.twitter.com/ywrcHbYCGI

— The Open (@TheOpen) May 28, 2025

“I think the weeks after major championships in these events sometimes when you are in contention and you are trying to win them, it can feel quite difficult to go play the next week,” McIlroy told a press conference at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

“After a week like I had at Oakmont, where you are not quite in the mix but you might feel you find something in your game, you are excited to come back and play again.

“This is the perfect