Rory McIlroy Explains Why He Believes Longevity Is Underappreciated in Sports

Getting to the top is one thing, staying at the top is another.

Rory McIlroy will tee it up at the Genesis Scottish Open this weekend ahead of the British Open. / PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy and many of the other best golfers in the world are playing in the Genesis Scottish Open this weekend as a European tune-up ahead of next week’s British Open.

McIlroy, 36, has been atop the golfing world for some time now, and though the names beside him in the top 10 worldwide rankings have shifted quite a bit, his name has been a steady presence on the board.

Speaking ahead of the Scottish Open, McIlroy said that longevity was an “underappreciated” part of an athletic career, and shouted out some fellow sporting veterans such as Novak Djokovic, who just advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals at 38.

“That longevity piece is something that maybe isn't alked about enough,” McIlroy said. “Once you get to a certain level, I feel like, the journey on the way up, I’m not going to say it’s easy, but you have that momentum and you ridin' that wave to the top. Once you get there, it takes just as much work if not more work to stay there.

“I think about my career. Before I won this major this year, the last major I won in 2014, I’d never heard of Scottie Scheffler. These talents and these players just keep coming and keep getting better every generation, and I think you have to adapt your game to make sure you’re able to hang.”

“I think it’s one of the under appreciated things about any sport.”

Rory McIlroy talked about why being elite into your 40s is so hard, citing Novak Djokovic’s performance at Wimbledon.

He mentions he didn’t even know who Scottie Scheffler was during his run in 2014. 😅 pic.twitter.com/C5iBUzPYNW

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) July 9, 2025

McIlroy’s longevity is certainly something to be admired, and the growth of his game while being one of the best players in the world is proof that he never let his foot off the gas even when at the top of his sport.

McIlroy will tee off at the Scottish Open at 8:43 a.m. ET (1:43 p.m. local time in Scotland) alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.

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