Masters champion Rory McIlroy promised his hair will be the perfect length for the Ryder Cup in September after he made his move at the Genesis Scottish Open.
McIlroy turned heads at the beginning of the week when he arrived at The Renaissance Club with a shorter hairstyle after a couple of weeks’ rest.
Golf fans suggested the five-time major winner looked like Mr. Bean when he took off his Nike cap to reveal a buzzcut.
McIlroy has now told CBS’ Amanda Balionis that he believed his haircut choice would make it look as though he wasn’t going grey.
“What happened there, Rory?” she asked McIlroy after he tied the lead with 18 holes remaining at the Scottish Open.
“You know, I’m getting a little grey as everyone probably knows,” McIlroy said.
“I stupidly thought that by going shorter it would take the greys out, and if anything it makes me look more grey!”
He added: “But, it will grow back. And it will be the perfect length come the Ryder Cup in September.”
Balionis told McIlroy that it could be a good luck haircut, depending on what happens in the final round.
“Who knows,” McIlroy said.
Watch the moment here:
McIlroy admits to having a ‘lull’
When McIlroy fulfilled a childhood ambition of winning The Masters in April, many anticipated the unburdened Ulsterman would go on a tear and contend at each of the remaining three majors.
But he has struggled for form since climbing his Everest.
His PGA Championship was overshadowed by the fact his driver was deemed non-conforming by the USGA on the eve of the major.
And his angry behaviour stole the headlines at the US Open at Oakmont.
McIlroy has been a far more relaxed figure this week and he believes he is approaching the form that carried him to victory at Augusta National.
“I think I’m pretty close to being back to the level I was at going into the Masters,” he said.
“I think I’ve had a little bit of a lull, which I feel is understandable. So I’m just getting back to the level that I know that I can play at.”
Whatever happens on Sunday at the Scottish Open, McIlroy will head to Royal Portrush as a heavy favourite to lift the Claret Jug alongside Scottie Scheffler.
McIlroy said he has not played the course since he missed the cut when the major was held there last in 2019.
“Harry [Diamond, his caddie] was there last week,” McIlroy said.
“They added a little bit of length to a couple of holes, four and seven, and they changed the seventh green but everything else is the same.”