GOLF’s world number one Rory McIlroy seems set to take to a county course next summer as he prepares to defend his Open Championship title.

McIlroy dropped a hint last week that he will use the Scottish Open at Gullane as part of his preparations for the defence of the Claret Jug a week later at St. Andrews.

McIlroy took his place among the field for this year’s edition at Royal Aberdeen, the first time he had played a European Tour event in five years, and now plans to repeat the pattern next summer by paying a visit to Scotland’s Golf Coast.

Playing the county course would allow the Northern Irishman a chance to refine his game to the demands of a links course ahead of his Open Championship defence the following week.

The 25-year-old claimed his third Major title in the summer when he won The Open by two shots from Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler at Hoylake. He soon followed that with his fourth, the PGA Championship.