Rory McIlroy shared the early lead at the Scottish Open after carding a five-under-par 65 in the opening round at the Renaissance Club. The Northern Irish golfer, who holds the world number two ranking and won the event in 2023, began his round at the 10th hole. His front nine included a combination of scores, starting and ending with bogeys but featuring three birdies to reach one under heading to the turn.

McIlroy’s back nine showcased a strong performance, notably on the 601-yard first hole where a 352-yard drive set up an eagle opportunity, which he converted. Despite missing birdie chances on the third and fourth holes, he managed an impressive up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the 18th to save par. By finishing the round at five under par, he positioned himself in a tie for the lead.

He shared the top spot with Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger, Patrick Cantlay, and Rasmus Hojgaard. Hojgaard, who briefly surged to six under with four holes remaining, ultimately settled into the tie at five under after dropping strokes late in his round. Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka was one stroke behind in a group at four under.

McIlroy’s performance signals strong form ahead of the upcoming Open Championship, as he navigates the links course against a competitive field. The Scottish Open’s opening round revealed a closely contested leaderboard, with several top-ranked players vying for early positioning.