The Genesis Scottish Open has seen a competitive start, with Rory McIlroy among five players sharing the early lead. The tournament, co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour, is being held at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian, Scotland, for the seventh consecutive year.
McIlroy, making his first appearance since the US Open, posted a five-under 65 in the opening round. He is currently tied for the top spot with Patrick Cantlay, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tom Kim, and Bernd Wiesberger. McIlroy‘s round included an eagle, five birdies, and two bogeys.
The world No 2 started his round on the back nine, where he bogeyed his first hole. He quickly recovered with a two-putt birdie at the par-five 12th, followed by additional gains at the 14th and 16th holes. Despite failing to save par at the 18th, he secured an 18-foot eagle at the par-five first hole on his second nine, adding two more gains from the seventh hole.
McIlroy commented on his performance, noting that he drove the ball particularly well, a continuation of what he observed at the US Open. He believes that consistently putting the ball in play allows him to attack courses and create scoring opportunities.
Contenders on a bunched leaderboard
The leaderboard is tightly packed, with 71 players separated by just five strokes after the first round. Among the notable players in contention is Scottie Scheffler, who is three strokes behind the leaders. Scheffler‘s opening round of two-under 68 included four birdies and two bogeys.
Scheffler expressed that he felt he did some good things during his round but wished he could have gained a few more shots. He noted that the two bogeys were a setback and that he could have played the par-fives more effectively.
A group of seven players, including Brooks Koepka, are one shot off the pace. Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood are two shots back, alongside players like Bob MacIntyre and US Open champion Wyndham Clark. Clark is within two strokes of the lead despite recording a double-bogey and a bogey early in his round.
Cantlay‘s round was bogey-free, featuring five birdies. Wiesberger briefly held the sole lead before a bogey on his penultimate hole. Hojgaard also reached six-under before a double-bogey on the par-four 16th impacted his score. He was the top performer in the afternoon wave after a birdie on the par-three 17th.
Tom Kim completed the group of five leaders with his five-under 65 earlier in the day. The tournament features all three of the 2026 major champions, along with other prominent players.
The Renaissance Club challenge
The Renaissance Club, designed by Tom Doak and constructed in 2008, offers a links challenge with rugged terrain, intended as a tribute to Scottish golf. The course’s difficulty can be significantly influenced by weather conditions, particularly coastal winds.
Historically, winning scores at The Renaissance Club have varied widely, ranging from seven-under to 18-under, largely due to the impact of weather. If conditions remain calm, scoring is expected to be abundant, but strong winds could alter play considerably.
McIlroy has previously performed well at The Renaissance Club, gaining 2.18 strokes per round during his career at the venue, which is noted as the best mark among players in this field. He has also gained multiple strokes off the tee in eight consecutive events, contributing to strong finishes including a win at the Masters and a T7 at the PGA Championship.
Wyndham Clark has shown strong form since April 1, gaining 2.20 strokes per round and securing four top-10 finishes in nine starts, including two wins. His recent performance indicates a gain of 3.21 strokes per round, with an even distribution between tee-to-green play and putting. Clark‘s career performance at The Renaissance Club has seen him gain 1.69 strokes per round, which is among his best at any course he has played at least three times.
Jake Knapp, returning from an injury that sidelined him for two months, is aiming to regain his early 2026 form, which included five consecutive top-15 finishes. He has played two events since his return, and reports suggest his injury is no longer an issue, though he is still working to regain his rhythm. He showed improvement over the final three days of the Travelers Championship, with rounds of 67, 64, and 69.
Nicolai Højgaard has also found form recently, finishing T14 at the Travelers Championship after a period of missed cuts. He gained 4.49 strokes from tee to green and over 2.5 strokes putting in the final three rounds of that event. Højgaard has achieved four top-five finishes this year and has previously performed well in Scotland.
Live coverage of the Genesis Scottish Open continues on Friday from 8:30 am.
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Source: skysports.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”