Australia’s Elvis Smylie has made a powerful begin to the Scottish Open, sitting three photographs off the lead after the primary spherical on the Renaissance Membership.
Smylie matched world No.1 Scottie Scheffler with a three-under par opening spherical 67, that included only one the bogey, which sadly got here on the final gap.
The 23-year-old left-hander has been plying his commerce on the DP World Tour after a breakthrough dwelling summer season that included seeing off mentor Cameron Smith to win the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.
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Smylie is a confirmed starter in subsequent week’s The Open Championship at Royal Portrush on account of his success on dwelling shores, and he began his preparation for his third main look in glorious style by stringing collectively back-to-back birdies at 5 and 6, and 13 and 14 to put himself among the many contenders on the Scottish hyperlinks.
Sepp Straka, Nico Echavarria, Jake Knapp and Victor Perez share the lead as superb circumstances made for a day of low scoring on Scotland’s east coast.
Scheffler made a dream begin when he eagled the tenth, his first gap for the day.
LEADERBOARD: All of the scores from the Scottish Open
The USPGA champion picked up birdies on the sixteenth, third and seventh however dropped photographs on the fourth and sixth slowed his progress.
Rory McIlroy is searching for to get again within the groove forward of his homecoming to Northern Eire subsequent week at Royal Portrush.
Since ending his 11-year wait to win a serious on the Masters in April, the world No.2 has struggled and is hoping a few weeks break will go away him refreshed for the ultimate main of the season.
McIlroy seemed set for a disappointing begin on the venue the place he gained in 2023, however birdied his final three holes to complete on two-under.
“I positively completed the spherical higher than I began it,” mentioned McIlroy.
Defending champion Robert MacIntyre can be on two-under par, alongside British Open champion Xander Schauffele.
Australia’s Adam Scott is one-under par, whereas countryman Karl Vilips is one-over.