Rory McIlroy posted a final‑round 64 at the Genesis Scottish Open, matching his lowest score of the year and briefly moving to 12 under, just one shot off the lead. He opened the round with five birdies in seven holes, but a three‑putt bogey at the ninth and a wayward approach on the 16th kept him from taking the title.

McIlroy led after the first two rounds with 65 and 66, but a fog‑delayed third round 73, featuring only one birdie, dropped him out of contention. He said the wind‑affected range work revealed a tendency to push iron shots left, a habit he began correcting in the final round, which helped him hold more putts and improve his club‑face control.

Despite the strong finish, the world No. 2 acknowledged lingering issues that must be addressed before The Open at Royal Birkdale next Thursday. He plans to fine‑tune his iron play over the next few days, aiming for consistency rather than relying on occasional low rounds.

The performance keeps McIlroy in the top tier of the European Tour Order of Merit and signals he can still contend in majors, provided he resolves the swing drift that cost him in the third round.