​Rory McIlroy opened his Scottish Open campaign at the Renaissance Club with a 65, earning a share of the early lead. Starting from the 10th hole, his opening nine was a mix of outcomes, beginning and ending with bogeys but peppered with three birdies to reach one under as he turned in. The 601-yard first hole punished length with a 352-yard drive, followed by a four-iron that landed inside 19 feet for an eagle. That early momentum should have sparked a surge, yet a missed three-foot birdie attempt at the par-three third and a 14-footer at the following hole stunted the charge.
McIlroy continued to apply pressure, reaching four under after finding the green in two at the 575-yard seventh and rolling in a 61-foot putt for a two-putt from long range. He then tied the lead with a 16-foot putt from the fringe at the following hole and saved par with a brilliant back-spinning bunker save at the last to cap the day. “I thought for the most part, I played well. I felt like I drove the ball particularly well, and I started to see that at Shinnecock a couple weeks ago at the US Open,” McIlroy said, referencing the recent form. “It’s 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. I played the par fives well. I think I hit all three greens in regulation: one putt dropped for eagle and two two-putt birdies always helps the card. Overall, good to get my first round of competitive golf on a links golf course and it’s obviously a great start to the tournament.”
McIlroy sits tied at the top with Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger, and Patrick Cantlay, as five-time major winner Brooks Koepka sits just one stroke back in a quartet on four under. The morning also featured Scot Bob MacIntyre relishing a home Open return, while Wyndham Clark—the newly crowned US Open champion—also joined the group, shooting 67 after overcoming a rocky start that left him three over after four holes as he rallied to finish in red figures.
“Every time I come back and play in Scotland, it’s unbelievable,” MacIntyre said. “They certainly know how to get behind their own, and today was no different. Having the support is obviously massive, and having two other players like that alongside brings up the atmosphere.” MacIntyre’s sentiment echoed the general mood around the Renaissance Club, where the galleries created an enthusiastic backdrop as the early scores rolled in and McIlroy and the others chased a potentially decisive round to kick off the tournament. With such a crowd-pleasing performance on a classic links layout, McIlroy reinforced that his game remains primed for the big stage, particularly on courses that reward precision, smart aggression, and the ability to exploit scoring opportunities when the par-fives are within reach.