Rory McIlroy just three adrift after opening 64 in Scotland

Rory McIlroy sits three strokes off the lead after an impressive opening round 64 at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.

The World No 3 next week returns to the site of his only Open Championship victory when the oldest major comes to Royal Liverpool and McIlroy tuned up with a fine opening round on the links course at Gullane on Scotland's East Coast.

Having taken some time off since his tied-seventh finish in the Travelers Championship, McIlroy returned to action re-invigorated, registering an eagle and six birdies en route to a six-under par start in Scotland.

On a day of low scoring, McIlroy's round was only good enough to sit tied-3rd, three strokes behind leader, Korea's Byeong-Hun An, who carded a stunning nine-under round of 61.

Beginning on the 10th, McIlroy birdied five of his opening seven holes, before giving back two strokes around the turn.

McIlroy, whose failures with the putter cost him at last month's US Open at LA Country Club, was in fine form on the greens, draining a 35-foot putt for eagle on the 3rd (his 12th) to get back on track. Another birdie followed on the 5th to get to -6.

Every shot of @McIlroyRory's opening round 64 in two minutes