Thursday 13 July 2017 21:00, UK
Rory McIlroy's search for pre-Open form continues after a frustrating start to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on Thursday.
The world No 4. faces an uphill battle to avoid a third missed in four events after struggling to a two-over 74 at Dundonald Links, leaving him seven strokes off a four-way tie for the early lead.
Despite saying he felt "close" to his best ahead of this week's Rolex Series event, McIlroy suffered similar problems to the ones he experienced during last week's early exit in Northern Ireland.
McIlroy mixed four birdies with four bogeys and a double-bogey during another up-and-down display, with the Northern Irishman declining to speak to the media after his round.
Beginning on the back nine alongside Open champion Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler, McIlroy slipped down the leaderboard with back-to-back bogeys from the 11th.
McIlroy found trouble at the par-four 13th when his approach span back in to the burn at the front of the green, with a double-bogey briefly taking him to four-over.
Although the top seed bounced back with a birdie at the par-five next, he pitched in to a greenside bunker and bogeyed the 18th to reach the turn in 40.
His fortunes improved with two-putt birdies at the par-five third and fifth and drained a 20-footer at the seventh, only to slip back with a bogey-five on his final hole.
Watch the Scottish Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4.
