Rory McIlroy said he planned to play this week's Scottish Open a year ago, as he plotted his British Open preparation.
In 2013, Phil Mickelson won both the tournament preceding a major, and the major.
LEADERBOARDS: Scottish Open | PGA: John Deere Classic | Women's British Open
McIlroy said Mickelson laid the foundations by playing the week before the British Open and succeeding, something McIlroy wants to replicate — heading into the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen, starting July 17.
"Phil definitely opened the eyes of a lot of guys," McIlroy said. "I played the first two rounds with him at Muirfield and I could see he was ready.
"He was sharp, he had played a competitive week the previous week, he won obviously, but he just looked like he was ready for the links challenge and everything that it was going to present us with.
"So even this time last year I was sort of thinking, I think I might play the Scottish next year. That's not just me.
"You look at the likes of Justin Rose… I bumped into Rickie Fowler this morning at breakfast, Jimmy Walker, there are a few guys that Phil has really influenced to come over here and play some links golf. Competitive links golf, before The Open."
While McIlroy conceded the European Tour event was still a lead-in to the major at Hoylake, there was still plenty to gain than just form from a win in Scotland.
"Most guys are (playing) with an eye towards next week but just to play some competitive golf on links is going to be great and I am fourth in the Race to Dubai so it will be nice to contend here this week and push up a little bit and get to the top of those rankings and go into The Open next week with a bit of momentum," he said.