Rory McIlroy faced difficulties as fog and weather delays disrupted play at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday at Renaissance Golf Club in Scotland. The third round was suspended twice, first in the morning around 10:20 a.m. when 17 players were already on the course and again in the evening as low visibility returned. These interruptions led to a fragmented day and left the leading groups stranded before completing their rounds.

The initial suspension lasted nearly three hours, forcing overnight leaders Jordan Smith and Tom Kim to delay their play until approximately 6:15 p.m. After play resumed briefly in the afternoon at 1:10 p.m., it was suspended once more at 7:55 p.m. The delays mean players will face a demanding schedule on Monday, with the third round set to resume early at 7 a.m., followed by the completion of the final 18 holes in three-ball groups starting no later than 10:15 a.m. The tournament serves as a key warm-up ahead of The Open at Royal Birkdale, which begins on Thursday.

McIlroy, ranked world number two, and his playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick, both part of the Ryder Cup squad, managed to complete eight holes of their third rounds before play was halted. Fitzpatrick capitalized on the conditions to move into a share of the lead at 11-under par, alongside American Michael Thorbjornsen, who had played 13 holes of his round. In contrast, McIlroy struggled in the fading light, dropping to five shots behind the leaders after recording three bogeys. He managed to fit in a third-round 64 during the breaks but was unable to maintain his earlier momentum. At one point, McIlroy needed to sink a long putt at the eighth hole to avoid further setbacks before play was called off for the day.

Among other contenders tied at 10-under par when play stopped were Americans Kevin Roy, defending champion Chris Gotterup, and US Open winner Wyndham Clark. Australia’s Min Woo Lee and England’s Jordan Smith were also at that mark. Scotland’s hope Bob MacIntyre reached nine-under par after completing nine holes in 33 shots, sharing that score with Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and South Korean Tom Kim, who had led overnight alongside McIlroy and Smith.

Michael Thorbjornsen described the day’s interruptions as an opportunity to reset, noting that the changing weather conditions required flexibility. He highlighted that the wind had shifted direction multiple times during the week and emphasized maintaining a steady routine amid the uncertainty. The players now face the challenge of adjusting to the disrupted timetable as the tournament nears its conclusion.