Rory McIlroy fired a five-under 65 on Thursday to grab a share of the first-round lead at the Genesis Scottish Open, joining Patrick Cantlay, Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger and Rasmus Højgaard at the top at The Renaissance Club.
According to the PGA Tour’s official round-one wrap, McIlroy — making his first start since the US Open — holed an 18-foot eagle putt at the par-five first and added five birdies against two bogeys, with nearly half of the 156-man field breaking par in North Berwick. Sky Sports reports that 71 players sit within five strokes on a congested leaderboard at the co-sanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour event.
“A continuation of putting the ball in play, and then once I do that, I feel like I can attack courses and I can set up scoring opportunities. I did that today,” McIlroy said, in quotes carried by the PGA Tour.
Scottie Scheffler And Brooks Koepka Lurk On Scottish Open Leaderboard
Brooks Koepka sits among a seven-strong chasing pack at four under after a 66, despite missing four putts from inside seven feet, while world No 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 68 without birdieing any of the three par fives. Jon Rahm’s bid to make LIV Golf history stumbled early, the Spaniard needing two late birdies to salvage a 73.
Scheffler and McIlroy began their Genesis Scottish Open title bids with one eye on Royal Birkdale, where The Open starts on 16 July — and the stakes stretch beyond the trophy, with the top three finishers not already exempt earning places in the final major of the year.
