Rory McIlroy throws down Scottish Open gauntlet to 'great leaderboard' as 2 key targets set

Rory McIlroy is thrilled to be in the Scottish Open title mix after his post-US Open exile.

The Northern Irish superstar believes he should be even closer to leader Ludvig Aberg after a 66 left him three behind the Swede at the Renaissance halfway mark. McIlroy feels he has even better to come as he looks to go back-to-back at the Genesis Scottish Open. The 35-year-old is excited for the weekend and said: “It’s a great leaderboard.

"Collin [Morikawa] is up there. Sahith [Theegala] is up there. Bob [MacIntyre] has played pretty solid. Obviously, a home interest to root for for everyone here. I’m probably feeling like I should be sort of around Ludvig’s score if not a little bit better after the last couple days, but I’m still in good position. It’s another weekend where I’m right in the mix of a tournament and that’s a nice position to be in after the last three weeks that I’ve had.

“I’ll have to get off to a good start on Saturday just like I got off to a good start today. There’s a few opportunities in that first six holes, so I think that’s pretty important and, from there, see where I am.

“If I can keep playing the way I’m playing and limit the mistakes, I definitely feel like there’s a lower one in me. I saw a 62 and 63 out there. If we continue to get conditions like this, I think that’s what it’s going to take to be right up there around the lead going into Sunday.”

McIlroy’s putter went cold on the back nine when, just as at Pinehurst, he missed another tiny putt. He said: “I had some good chances coming down the last few holes and missed a little one on 16 and had a good chance on 17 there that just slipped by. It’s two solid scores to open. I’m right into the mix.”