Rory McIlroy surveys the course at Harding Park
Rory McIlroy is on the hunt Image Credit: AP

Four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy will bring further star power to a world-class field assembling at the Rolex Series 2021 Scottish Open after confirming he will be one of five of the top 10-ranked players to tee it up at the Renaissance Club from July 8-11.

McIlroy will make his seventh appearance at Scotland’s national open — and his first since 2019 — as part of a star-studded line-up including world No. 1 and recent US Open champion Jon Rahm, and the third, fourth and fifth ranked players, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.

Rahm, the current Race to Dubai leader, will go in search of a fifth Rolex Series title when he makes his Scottish Open debut alongside fellow Major winner Morikawa and four-time PGA Tour winner Schauffele, while the 2017 US PGA Championship winner Thomas returns for a second appearance.

World No. 11 Tyrrell Hatton will also look to add to his multiple Rolex Series titles when he tees it up alongside fellow 2018 Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Henrik Stenson, the current European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington, and his newly appointed Vice Captains Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell.

Reigning Race to Dubai Champion Lee Westwood is also confirmed for this year’s event, alongside 12-time European Tour winner Ian Poulter, fellow Englishman and defending champion Aaron Rai and their compatriots Matt Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace and 2016 Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett, who have 17 European Tour titles between them.

Leading the home charge will be Robert MacIntyre, the highest-ranked Scotsman in the world at 50, while American stars Billy Horschel, Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris are among the players making their debuts as the second Rolex Series event of the 2021 Race to Dubai takes its traditional slot in the week before the Open Championship.