McIlroy 'close to Masters level' in taking Scottish Open lead
-11 R McIlroy (NI), C Gotterup (US); -9 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), M Penge (Eng), J Knapp (US), W Clark (US); -7 K Yu (TPE), S Straka (Aut), A Rozner (Fra), A Novak (US), T Kim (Kor), H English (US), L Aberg (Swe), M Schmid (Ger)
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Selected others: -6 S Scheffler (US), -5 X Schauffele (US), V Hovland (Nor) -4 J Rose (Eng), G Forrest (Sco)
Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy says he is now close to his Masters-winning form after putting himself in prime position for another Scottish Open title with an imposing third-round 66 to share the lead.
The Northern Irishman began the day four shots adrift of overnight leader Chris Gotterup but ended it alongside the unheralded American on 11 under.
The duo take a two-shot lead into the final day after English pair Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge both bogeyed the last to card one-under 69s and drop into a share of third alongside Americans Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp.
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McIlroy has endured a "lull" since completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta National in April, but believes he is returning to his imperious best as he pursues a second Scottish Open triumph in three years.
He compiled five birdies - including on all three par fives - with his sole bogey coming on the seventh after having to hack out of a fairway bunker.
The world number two clearly revels in competing at the Renaissance Club - posting the joint-lowest round of the day and his 11th consecutive score of 68 or lower on these links.
"I think I'm pretty close to being back to the level I was at going into the Masters," said the 36-year-old.
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"I think I've had a little bit of a lull, which I feel is understandable. When you do something that you've been dreaming your whole life to do, it was a huge moment in my life, my career.
"I think I just needed that little bit of time. And to be back here for last couple weeks, and feel like I could actually digest all of it, I feel like I came to this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year."
Scheffler, Aberg & Clark loiter further back
Gotterup, the world number 158, followed his course record-equalling 61 with a level-par 70.
And Clark matched McIlroy's 66 welcome to provide welcome relief amid his torrid season.
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The 2023 US Open winner has missed the cut in two of his past three events and mustered just one top-10 finish this year.
"It's just nice to be back in this position and let's see if I can go put a good round together and have four solid days of golf," said Clark.
"I've hit a lot of good putts all year and just haven't holed anything. Now it's nice to see the ball go in the hole. Made a couple adjustments and they seem to work."
Ludvig Aberg was jostling for the lead before a triple-bogey seven on the 13th was sandwiched by bogeys as he spilled five shots in a wretched three-hole stretch.
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The Swede's 71 leaves him four shots back.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is one further adrift after a frustrating 71 in which he had to wait until the 13th for a first birdie.
Frenchman Romain Langasque provided a wonderful moment with a hole in one on the 145-yard par-three 14th.
Having scraped into the weekend, defending champion Bob MacIntyre is one over after labouring to a 72.
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But Newcastle is in need of an attacker after the departure of Callum Wilson, and like the idea of Isak and Ekitike combining, or at least providing strong competition for one another. Ekitike's name will be known to Newcastle fans. The club has attempted to sign him twice in the last four years, initially coming close in January 2022. It was Newcastle's first window after the takeover, and Ekitike, a teenager at the time, was at Reims. The interest was an early indication of Newcastle's recruitment blueprint, signing young, exciting talent at a fraction of its potential value. Ekitike opted to join Paris Saint-Germain, initially on loan, but played a handful of games and struggled with competition from the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at Parc des Princes. He moved to Germany for the second half of the 2023-24 season on loan, going permanently the following summer having lost valuable development time. His 18 month stint at Frankfurt has worked wonders. Last season, Ekitike scored 22 goals in all competitions with 11 assists, re-establishing him as one of the most exciting forwards around. Newcastle signed Isak and he has thrived at St James' Park. But contact with and interest in Ekitike has never ceased; such is the depth of detail in its scouting, rarely does the club fully move on from a target. Earlier this summer, Newcastle offered more than £50m ($67m) for Joao Pedro, the other striker it wanted to sign before Isak signed, only for him to join Brighton from Watford after the club changed focus in August 2022. The Brazilian opted to move to Chelsea instead. Given Newcastle needs a striker again and has already returned to its old list once, it makes sense for it to do it again with Ekitike. The Frenchman is the ideal profile wanted by Eddie Howe to both compliment and compete with Isak, particularly in terms of versatile, able to play off the left or drop deep and combine with midfielders or run in behind and score. He is good at both creating chances for himself (in the 96th percentile of Bundesliga strikers for progressive carries) and others (94th percentile for shot creating actions, according to and a lethal finisher. Others, including Brentford's 28-year-old Yoan Wissa, are possibilities, but Newcastle's options cover a wide range of scenarios. It would be an ambitious move for Newcastle to make a third attempt to sign Ekitike, and that is genuinely being considered. But there are serious hurdles to surpass. FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - APRIL 26: Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates scoring his ... More team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig at Deutsche Bank Park on April 26, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by) Newcastle is considered an outsider in the race for Ekitike for a number of reasons. Firstly, Isak's presence is a complication. Although Howe needs a Champions League-quality addition up front, any potential option will arrive at St James' Park knowing he will be behind Newcastle's top scorer in the pecking order. Yes, it is possible for two strikers to pair up; Ekitike did so with Omar Marmoush at Frankfurt last season before he joined Manchester City and Isak regularly combines with Viktor Gyokeres and new club mate Anthony Elanga for Sweden. But Howe prefers a 4-3-3 system and upsetting the midfield balance in particular would be a risky strategy. Ekitike could play wide on the left, but Newcastle already has Anthony Gordon and and Harvey Barnes there. The reality is Ekitike could get more game time in a position he'd like, as well as better wages, at other clubs who want to sign him. Cost will also be something to consider. Newcastle has a sizeable budget to spend this summer, with £55m ($74m) already spent on Elanga, and a centre back and goalkeeper also required. Although Newcastle reacts to sign priority targets, it would be a push to match Frankfurt's valuation and still cover all bases. Crucially, though, not impossible. Ekitike remains an ideal option up front for Newcastle, and the club is aware of the challenges of getting a deal done. Yet all the reasons to discredit the possibility are speculative; it will undoubtedly be tough, but if the club is to progress, signings like this must become a more regular occurrence.
