Rory McIlroy surges to Scottish Open lead days before Open at Portrush
After a dip in form following his Augusta National heroics, McIlroy is well positioned for his first victory since completing the Career Grand Slam as he shares the lead with American Chris Gotterup.
Firing a field-best four-under-par 66, McIlroy hit three birdies on the back nine to storm to the top of the leaderboard.
Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick leads the chasing pack in a four-way tie for second at nine-under par and is joined by Wyndham Clark, Jake Knapp and Marco Penge.
Others in contention include Tom Kim, Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Staka at seven-under-par while world number one Scottie Scheffler is a further shot back at six-under-par.
McIlroy, who won the event in 2023, got his first birdie of the day on the par-five third and would par the two other par fives and also had birdies on the eighth and 14th holes while his sole blemish came with a bogey on the par-four seventh.
After showing signs of life at the US Open, McIlroy welcomed the continued momentum as the Open heads to his native Northern Ireland next week.
"It is my first realistic chance to win after the Masters," he told Sky Sports.
"I have had a great season but yes, and I have said this before, when you do something you that have dreamt of for your whole life, and then do it, it was a huge moment in my life and career.
"I just need that little bit of time, and to be back here for the last couple of weeks and digest all of it, I feel like I came here for this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year."
McIlroy will go out in a three-ball with Gotterup and Clark at 1.40 pm tomorrow in the tournament's final pairing. Padraig Harrington will tee it up alongside last year's champion Robert MacIntyre at 12.50 pm.
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Australia : Tom Wright (Brumbies); Max Jorgensen (Force), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Waratahs) Len Ikitau (Brumbies); Harry Potter (Waratahs); Tom Lynagh (Reds), Jake Gordon (Waratahs); James Slipper (Brumbies), Matt Faessler (Reds), Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies), Nick Frost (Brumbies), Jeremy Williams (Force), Nick Champion de Crespigny* (Force), Fraser McReight (Reds), Harry Wilson (Reds, capt). Replacements : Billy Pollard (Brumbies), Angus Bell (Waratahs), Tom Robertson (Force), Tom Hooper (Brumbies), Carlo Tizzano (Force), Tate McDermott (Reds), Ben Donaldson (Force), Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs). * denotes Test debut British & Irish Lions : Hugo Keenan (Leinster/Ireland); Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints/England); Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland), James Lowe (Leinster/Ireland); Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster/Ireland); Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/England), Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland), Maro Itoje (Saracens/England, capt), Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Ireland), Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks/England), Jack Conan (Leinster/Ireland). Replacements : Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland), Andrew Porter (Leinster/Ireland), Will Stuart (Bath/England), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers/England), Ben Earl (Saracens/England), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/England), Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England), Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland). Referee : Ben O'Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referees : Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR) TMO : Richard Kelly (NZR) FPRO : Eric Gauzins (FFR) Overall head-to-head : Played 23, Australia 6 wins, Lions 17 wins. Last six meetings : 2001 Australia 13 Lions 29. Australia 35 Lions 14. Australia 29 Lions 23. 2013 Australia 21 Lions 23. Australia 16 Lions 15. Australia 16 Lions 41. Forecast: Lions to win.
