NORTH BERWICK
Rory McIlroy began his final preparations for next week’s Open Championship in spectacular fashion. The Northern Irishman fired a brilliant five-under-par 65 to secure a five-way share of the opening-round lead at the Genesis Scottish Open.
Playing in sunshine and light winds at The Renaissance Club, McIlroy was joined at the top by American star Patrick Cantlay, South Korea’s Tom Kim, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard. Nearly half of the 156-player field broke par on a day blessed with near-perfect scoring conditions.
McIlroy, making his first start since the U.S. Open, initially struggled to find his rhythm. Starting on the tenth tee, he traded three birdies with two bogeys. However, a stunning 18-foot eagle putt on the par-five first hole ignited his back nine. He added another birdie before chipping in beautifully on the eighth hole to climb into the co-lead.
The other leaders took different paths to their 65s. Cantlay relied on a heavier putter to card a flawless, bogey-free round. Wiesberger surged with seven birdies in a blistering ten-hole stretch, while Kim continued his fine history at the venue. Højgaard briefly held the solo lead before a late double-bogey forced him to settle for a share.
It was a mixed day for players of Indian origin. Indo-Canadian debutant Sudarshan Yellamaraju enjoyed a steady start, mixing four birdies with two bogeys for a two-under 68 to sit tied for 26th. Meanwhile, Sahith Theegala battled to an even-par 70, leaving him tied for 75th. Defending PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai struggled to a one-over 71, placing him tied for 99th and leaving him facing a tough fight to make the weekend cut.
The leaderboard remains highly congested. A strong seven-player chasing group, including five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka, sits just one shot off the lead at four-under. World Number One Scottie Scheffler also remains firmly in historical contention after opening his tournament with a steady two-under 68.