Rory McIlroy sits tied-third after an opening-round 64 at the Scottish Open, where Byeong Hun An leads a nine-under 61; McIlroy is playing in Scotland ahead of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23 - both live on Sky Sports Golf
Friday 14 July 2023 07:27, UK
Rory McIlroy continued his resurgence in form to sit three shots behind the early clubhouse lead at the Genesis Scottish Open.
McIlroy, who has posted top-seven finishes in his last five worldwide starts, maintained his impressive form by mixing an eagle and six birdies with two bogeys to post a six-under 64 opening round at the Renaissance Club.
The Northern Irishman sits tied-third alongside Belgium's Thomas Detry, as Byeong Hun An equalled the course record with a bogey-free 61 to open up a two-shot advantage on Davis Riley.
"It's a really good start," McIlroy said. "I've not had particularly great results around this course the last couple of times but I feel like my game is definitely in better shape now. I feel like I'm coming in here playing really good golf, producing good results and getting myself in contention."
McIlroy, beginning on the back nine alongside two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and defending champion Xander Schauffele, made a two-putt birdie at the par-five 10th and holed from 20 feet to pick up a shot at the par-three 12th.
McIlroy converted from a similar distance at the next and drained a 40-footer at the par-four 15th to jump into a share of the lead, then took advantage of the par-five 16th to register a fifth birdie in seven holes.
The former world No 1 failed to get up and down from off the 17th green and missed a five-foot birdie chance at the next, seeing him turn in 31, then added another bogey at the par-four second after sending his approach into the greenside bunker.
McIlroy responded by firing a 360-yard drive and brilliant approach into the par-five third, setting up an eagle from nearly 35 feet to grab the outright lead, before moving to six under for the day when he converted an eight-foot birdie at the par-four fifth.
Four pars then followed, outside birdie chances to take the outright lead on the par-four eighth and par-three ninth eluding him.
Riley had raced to the turn in 29 and picked up another birdie on the 10th to reach seven under par, raising the prospect of breaking the 60 barrier on the par-70 layout, only to par each of his final eight holes.
South Korea's K.H Lee and Germany's Yannik Paul share fifth spot after carding five-under 65s, while world No 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a two-under 68 and Schauffele began his title defence with a level-par 70.
McIlroy is using the event - co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour - as competitive preparation ahead of The 151st Open next week at Royal Liverpool, where he will be looking to end his nine-year major drought at the venue where he enjoyed a wire-to-wire win in 2014.
Watch the Genesis Scottish Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continue Friday with Featured Groups from 8am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 12.30pm. The Open is then live from July 20-23 on Sky Sports Golf.
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