North Berwick: McIlroy part of 3-way tie for Scottish Open lead as Scheffler misses cut
McIlroy in Strong Position at Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy has secured a share of the lead at the Scottish Open, posting a 4-under 66 on Friday amidst windy conditions. McIlroy, who previously won the tournament three years ago, is part of a three-way tie at 9-under 131, positioning him favorably heading into the weekend. He utilized a new wedge, which he believes will assist him on the firm turf at The Renaissance Club and for the upcoming British Open at Royal Birkdale.
McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that it was “another good day and in good position,” though he noted it “would have been nice to be a couple better.” His round included navigating the scoring holes effectively despite the challenging weather. McIlroy has not recorded a win since his back-to-back victories at the Masters in April.
Joining McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard are Jordan Smith and Tom Kim. Smith delivered the tournament’s low score with a 63, achieving four consecutive birdies early on the back nine, all within ten feet. Kim, who tied for third at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, carded a 66. His round featured a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh hole and two birdies in his final five holes.
Kim has been on a steady ascent after falling out of the world’s top 100. His strong showing at the U.S. Open was a significant step, ultimately securing his spot in the British Open. Kim commented on his recent progress, saying, “I think being under the radar was kind of nice, just be able to work on my game and keep getting better.” He added, “Not being in the spotlight all the time, you don’t see everything, you don’t see all the good stuff. I knew I was really, really close. And I’m still working towards trying to be the best I can be. But all those little things kind of kept adding, kept adding, and I think it’s shown the last couple weeks.”
Scheffler’s Unexpected Early Exit
In a surprising turn of events, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler missed the 36-hole cut, marking his first missed cut in nearly four years. Scheffler struggled from the outset, finishing with a 72, which placed him at even par overall. The cut was anticipated to settle at 2 under. This ends a remarkable streak of 78 consecutive cuts made, a run that stood as the longest active streak on the PGA TOUR and was 51 events longer than the next closest player.
Scheffler’s last missed cut occurred in August 2022 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. He expressed his frustration, noting, “Got off to a poor start and after that, I didn’t really it close enough to give myself a bunch of looks.” He also remarked, “I didn’t really feel like I played that bad. This golf course can be just tough at times.” He attributed some of his difficulties to shots landing too far from the hole, preventing easy birdie opportunities.
The unexpected departure from The Renaissance Club means Scheffler will head south earlier than planned for his title defense at the British Open. His performance was particularly below average in approach play and he did not hit enough fairways, limiting his chances for birdies. Scheffler’s frustration was visible throughout the day, including a moment on the 17th hole where his tee shot landed in a pot bunker, leading to a bogey.
Scheffler’s early exit is particularly notable given his recent form, which included playing in the final pairing at last month’s U.S. Open and losing in a playoff at the Travelers Championship two weeks prior. Despite his consistent ability to contend, this week presented a significant challenge on the links golf course. He acknowledged his consistency, stating, “I’m definitely proud of the consistency” regarding his cut streak.
Other Notable Performances and Missed Cuts
The Scottish Open also saw other prominent players miss the cut. Patrick Cantlay and Bernd Wiesberger, who had shared the 18-hole lead, both failed to advance. Cantlay shot a 74, while Wiesberger recorded a 43 on the back nine for a 78. This marks the first time since Jordan Spieth at the 2023 Sony Open that players sharing the first-round lead subsequently missed the cut. Brooks Koepka, who was one shot off the lead entering Friday, also missed the cut.
Among those close to the lead are Matt Fitzpatrick, who shot a 65 and is one shot back, alongside Min Woo Lee. The group at 133 includes defending champion Chris Gotterup and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. Gotterup, coming off a victory last week at the John Deere Classic, faced a challenge on the 18th when his drive landed in high grass, leading to a difficult recovery. Despite this, he remains only two shots behind the leaders.
The British Open is offering three qualification spots to the leading finishers not already qualified. Among those currently in a qualifying position at the halfway point is Nicolai Von Dellingshausen of Germany, who won his first European Tour event last year at the Austrian Open. He acknowledged the competitive field, stating, “Honestly, I was nervous. This is the best player field I’ve played during the year. There are a couple good names out there. Trying not to look too much into it and playing my own game.”
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Source: wral.com
