McIlroy makes impressive start to Scottish Open defence

Scottish Open first information leaderboard

-6 M Kieffer (Ger), H Li (Chi); -5 R McIlroy (NI), T Fleetwood (Eng), D Brown (Eng), Y Paul (Ger), U Coussaud (Fra), D Thompson (US); C Conners (Can), A Noren (Swe) -4 A Novak (US), C Gotterup (US)

Selected others: -3 R MacIntyre (Sco), V Hovland (Nor), A Scott (Aus), M Homa (US); -2 W Clark (US); -1 X Schauffele; E P Harrington (Ire)

Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy rebounded from US Open heartbreak by starting his Scottish Open title defence successful imposing fashion.

The Northern Irishman, successful his first quality since a precocious illness astatine Pinehurst a period agone extended his 10-year awesome drought, posted an eagle and 5 birdies successful his five-under 65 astatine nan Renaissance Club.

That near McIlroy good placed conscionable a changeable down clubhouse leaders Max Kieffer and Haotong Li, who some bogeyed nan last.

Tommy Fleetwood and Daniel Brown are alongside McIlroy aft bogey-free opening rounds for nan English brace while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, runner-up past year, is 3 under.

Calm conditions and a people softened by rainfall successful caller days allowed an opening information of debased scoring successful North Berwick.

McIlroy, starting connected nan 10th, began pinch a birdie but instantly dropped a changeable aft doubly uncovering dense rough.

Bogeys connected 14 and 16 bookended a birdie successful an untidy beforehand 9 for nan world number 2 successful which he deed only 3 of six fairways.

But he came live aft nan turn, pinch a birdie connected nan first followed by a delightful chip-in eagle from nan right-hand broadside of nan par-five third.

He picked up different changeable astatine nan adjacent and chances for further birdies from wrong 11 feet slipped by connected five, six and nine.

"Obviously nan past clip I played, I played well. I didn't get nan consequence I wanted but I've still sewage a batch of assurance successful my game," said McIlroy.

"I changeable a coagulated people today. I gave myself plentifulness of chances connected that backmost 9 and really felt for illustration I near a mates retired location arsenic well.

"It was arsenic gettable arsenic you're going to get this play course. Hopefully nary much rainfall complete nan adjacent fewer days and nan upwind tin get up a spot and nan people tin commencement to play a small spot tougher."

Playing partner MacIntyre had nan location crowds roaring successful delight erstwhile he produced an unorthodox par prevention connected nan par-three 12th, chipping complete nan adjoining wall aft an errant tee changeable landed connected nan 14th green.

He past ignited his information pinch 3 successive birdies from nan seventh earlier making nan move successful 2 nether aft a bogey connected 18. Two further bogeys and a birdie completed a "decent" opening round.

"I sewage disconnected to a really commencement and saw a people retired there, but it's links play and if you're not successful nan correct spots you tin person immoderate difficult pitches and putts," MacIntyre, 27, told BBC Sport.

"The tourney doesn't really commencement until Sunday truthful it's each astir building position and staying successful nan fight."

Patience paid disconnected for chap Ryder Cup prima Fleetwood, who besides started connected nan 10th and was 1 nether done 11 holes earlier birdieing 4 of nan closing seven.

Clubhouse leaders Kieffer and Li were retired successful nan aforesaid group and fed disconnected each other's momentum, said nan German.

"It was unbelievable," added Kieffer, who carded 7 birdies earlier his sole bogey astatine nan last.

"The momentum was location each day. I had a awesome commencement and Haotong was playing well. There was truthful overmuch momentum successful nan group each day. Surprisingly play feels beautiful easy."