Rory McIlroy hopes to rediscover 'that winning feeling' when he goes in search of his fifth major at The 145th Open next week.
The world No 4 heads to Royal Troon - having missed last year's tournament through injury - looking to replicate his two-shot victory over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia at Hoylake in 2014.
McIlroy, who has never played the Ayrshire links, is looking to gain vital inside knowledge prior to the year's third major rather than tee it up in this week's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.
"There's been times I've played the Scottish Open to get ready for the Open," said the Northern Irishman, who has also won the US Open and two PGA Championships.
"I felt like Royal Aberdeen was good preparation for Liverpool a few years ago but after playing the Open de France last week, if I have the Scottish this week then The Open I don't usually have one of my best ones.
"So take a week off, freshen up, get to know this golf course a little bit more and hopefully I'll be ready to go next week.
"Coming back home to play The Open is obviously one of my favourite events of the year and I don't think I've ever had a feeling like it in golf than when I won the claret jug a few years ago. It would be great to have that feeling again."
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