McIlroy shares Scottish Open lead with 65; Yellamaraju T-26 on debut
Synopsis
Rory McIlroy arrived at North Berwick looking rusty, then holed an 18-foot eagle putt that flipped the script entirely. His five-under 65 puts him in a five-way tie at the top of the Genesis Scottish Open — with the Open Championship just days away, the timing could not be better. Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian debutant Sudarshan Yellamaraju's two-under 68 is quietly the most intriguing subplot of round one.
Key Takeaways
Rory McIlroy fired a five-under 65 to share the Genesis Scottish Open first-round lead at The Renaissance Club , North Berwick.
He is joined at the top by Bernd Wiesberger , Tom Kim , Patrick Cantlay , and Rasmus Højgaard .
Indo-Canadian debutant Sudarshan Yellamaraju carded a two-under 68 to sit tied for 26th .
Sahith Theegala is tied for 75th after an even-par 70 ; Aaron Rai is tied 99th after a one-over 71 .
Nearly half the 156-player field broke par on day one; Brooks Koepka headlines a seven-player group at four-under 66 .
1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Chris Gotterup both opened with two-under 68 s.
Rory McIlroy fired a five-under-par 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, using the tournament as a final tune-up before next week's Open Championship. The Northern Irishman is joined at the top of a five-way tie by Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), Tom Kim (South Korea), Patrick Cantlay (United States), and Rasmus Højgaard (Denmark).
McIlroy's Round: Eagle Ignites the Back Nine
McIlroy, making his first competitive start since finishing tied for 32nd at the U.S. Open, began on the 10th tee and struggled early, trading birdies with bogeys on the 10th and 18th holes to turn in modest shape. The round changed completely when he holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-five first hole. He followed with birdies on the seventh and a sensational chip-in from off the green at the eighth to surge into a share of the lead.
How the Co-Leaders Got There
Cantlay posted arguably the cleanest card of the day — a bogey-free, five-birdie round — crediting a heavier putter for helping him adapt to the slower greens. Wiesberger, in the midst of a career resurgence, overcame an early bogey with seven birdies across a blistering 10-hole stretch, before a late dropped shot pegged him back to 65. Kim carded six birdies against a single bogey, extending his strong record at the venue where he finished third in 2022. Højgaard, playing his first competitive event since late May, briefly held the outright lead at six under before a double-bogey on the 16th hole; a bounce-back birdie on the 17th salvaged a share of the top spot.
Indian-Origin Players: Mixed Opening Day
For players of Indian origin, the first round produced contrasting results. Indo-Canadian debutant Sudarshan Yellamaraju carded a steady two-under 68 — featuring four birdies and two bogeys — to sit tied for 26th, a promising start in his first appearance at the event. Sahith Theegala, supported by Hero, battled to an even-par 70 to sit tied for 75th. Aaron Rai, the 2026 PGA Championship winner and 2020 champion of this event, endured a difficult one-over 71, leaving him tied for 99th and needing a low second round to make the cut.
A Congested Leaderboard
Scoring conditions at The Renaissance Club were near-perfect, with sunshine and light winds allowing nearly half the 156-player field to finish under par on day one. A seven-player group sits just one stroke back at four-under 66, headlined by five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka, alongside Kurt Kitayama, Andrew Novak, Michael Thorbjornsen, Min Woo Lee, Angel Ayora, and Oliver Lindell. At three-under 67 sit 2024 champion and local favourite Robert MacIntyre, fellow Scot Calum Hill, former Masters champion Danny Willett, and English Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Scheffler and Defending Champion Also in Contention
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a two-under 68, though the American expressed disappointment at not capitalising on the par fives. Defending champion Chris Gotterup also carded a 68, keeping himself well within range heading into the second round.
With the leaderboard tightly packed and the Open Championship looming, the second round at North Berwick is set to further separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Point of View
And his timing ahead of the Open Championship is ominous for the rest of the field. The congestion at the top, however, means nothing is settled; with Koepka, Scheffler, Fleetwood, and Fitzpatrick all within three shots, this leaderboard could look entirely different by the weekend. The quiet story is Yellamaraju: a two-under debut in a field this deep is not a footnote, and how he handles the pressure of day two will say a great deal about his readiness for bigger stages.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the Genesis Scottish Open after round one?
Rory McIlroy shares the first-round lead at five-under 65 along with Bernd Wiesberger, Tom Kim, Patrick Cantlay, and Rasmus Højgaard at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. The five-way tie at the top came after near-perfect scoring conditions on day one.
How did Rory McIlroy play in round one of the Scottish Open?
McIlroy carded a five-under-par 65, highlighted by an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-five first hole that sparked a strong inward nine. He also added birdies on the seventh and chipped in from off the green at the eighth to reach the co-lead.
How did Indian-origin players perform in round one?
Indo-Canadian debutant Sudarshan Yellamaraju posted a two-under 68 to sit tied for 26th, while Sahith Theegala carded an even-par 70 to sit tied for 75th. Aaron Rai, the 2026 PGA Championship winner, shot a one-over 71 and is tied for 99th, needing a low second round to make the cut.
Where does World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stand after round one?
Scheffler opened with a two-under 68 and sits three strokes off the lead. He reportedly expressed disappointment at not taking full advantage of the par fives on the course.
Why is the Genesis Scottish Open significant this week?
The tournament serves as the final competitive warm-up for many top players before the Open Championship the following week. The Renaissance Club in North Berwick is geographically close to links-style Open venues, making it an important form guide and preparation event.
