Aberg sets second-round pace at Scottish Open

Scottish Open 2nd information leaderboard

-12 L Aberg (Swe); -11 A Rozner (Fra); -10 S Im (Kor), M Manassero (Ita); -9 S Theegala (US), -8 N Hojgaard (Den), M Hughes (Can); -7 N Norgaard (Den), T Detry (Bel), S Cink (US)

Selected others: -6 J Thomas (US), B Harman (US); -4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), G Forrest (Sco); -2 H Matsuyama (Jpn); -1 J Spieth (US)

Leaderboard

In-form Swede Ludvig Aberg impressively compiled a 2nd successive 64 to group nan clubhouse target connected time 2 of nan Scottish Open.

The 24-year-old went bogey free and carded six birdies to scope 12 nether astatine nan Renaissance Club, a changeable clear of Frenchman Antoine Rozner.

First-round leader Justin Thomas faltered pinch a two-over 72 to autumn six disconnected nan pace, while Italy’s Matteo Mannassero tore information successful 63 to beryllium 10 nether alongside Sungjae Im.

Collin Morikawa and chap American Sahith Theegala are handily positioned 3 disconnected nan top.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy – who opened pinch a 65 - and past year’s runner-up, Robert McIntyre, were among nan later starters connected Friday.

Aberg, who burst connected to nan master segment pinch a PGA Tour triumph and debut Ryder Cup occurrence past year, already looks a earthy connected nan biggest stages.

Having vanished runner-up connected his awesome debut astatine nan Masters successful April, Aberg led astatine halfway successful nan US Open past period and will make his Open debut astatine Royal Troon adjacent week.

He was nonchalance personified arsenic he matched his opening information successful East Lothian.

With conditions erstwhile again favourable, nan Swede made hay arsenic nan sun shone, picking up strokes connected 11 – his 2nd spread – and 14 earlier superseding Im astatine nan apical of nan leaderboard pinch back-to-back birdies connected 16 and 17.

Two much followed connected nan par-five 3rd and short 5th erstwhile Aberg splashed retired of bunkers each clip and rolled successful nan putts.

"I wouldn't picture myself arsenic a superstar - each I effort to do is play bully golf," he said.

"Whether these past 12 months person changed my life connected nan play course, it hasn't changed my life disconnected nan course. I'm still nan aforesaid personality.

"Any clip you sprout 64, it's a bully day. We handled nan play people very good and ne'er tried to unit anything."

Im had travel tearing retired of nan blocks pinch birdies successful half of his first six holes to group nan early pace, but a three-putt bogey connected nan first checked his momentum earlier he gained a changeable to return to 10 under.

Thomas, a changeable clear aft a bogey-free information one, endured a frustrating 2nd day. Starting connected 10, he repaired nan harm of 2 bogeys pinch birdies connected nan 18th and third.

However, his revival went disconnected nan rails pinch a disastrous double-bogey connected 8 erstwhile he needed 3 disconnected tee aft losing his chaotic first effort successful trees to nan right.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is simply a changeable supra nan projected trim statement of 3 nether aft his 69, but Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose are among those who will not beryllium astir for nan weekend.

Scotland's Grant Forrest ensured he will make nan trim aft a melodramatic decorativeness connected nan 18th, pinch his attack from much than 190 yards lipping retired earlier he knocked successful nan birdie to motion for a 69 and beryllium 4 under.

Forrest, who is eyeing 1 of nan 3 Open spots up for grabs for those not already exempt, said: "Eighteen is 1 of nan toughest holes today, particularly pinch nan pin tucked to nan right.

"I didn't cognize wherever it came from, but I deed a superb 5 iron. What a alleviation to get successful and it's not going to beryllium an anxious hold now.

"It's been rather a unsmooth agelong nan past fewer months connected nan people and nan Scottish Open intends a batch to me."