The Masters champion has been on a break since tying for sixth at last month’s Travelers Championship – a welcome return to form after a challenging stretch following his Augusta triumph.
Now settled into a new family home in Wentworth, McIlroy says stepping away from the relentless PGA Tour grind has helped him refocus ahead of his push in North Berwick and another shot at Open glory at Royal Portrush.
“The one thing I would say about the last couple of weeks is I felt like I could detach a little bit more and sort of hide in a way,” the World No 2 said at a press conference.
“Sometimes you need that to completely get away. I feel like this world of golf can become all-encompassing if you let it.
“Justin Rose and I came up here together yesterday [Tuesday] and we were just chatting about how there is a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here, from when you play PGA Tour for that sort of first 25 to 30 weeks of the year.
“It has been lovely to get back and see some familiar faces, and is the first time back playing in the UK since what happened at Augusta, which is a really nice feeling as well.”
McIlroy won the Scottish Open for the first time in 2023, and followed that up with a tied-fourth last year.
“I don’t think I started out too well here but I have learned how to play the course a little bit better.
“Obviously I had that great finish in 2023, then played well again last year, so I am looking forward to getting out there tomorrow [Thursday].”
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler was set to tee off on Thursday morning alongside defending champion Robert MacIntyre and Adam Scott.
“If I wanted to just do preparation [for the Open] I would have gone and played some other golf courses for fun,” he said.
“Tournament golf is a little bit different – being here in the right conditions, in the wind, getting used to the time [difference] and stuff like that.
“This is an important tournament for me and is a tournament I want to play well in.”
