The first round at the 2026 Scottish Open delivered the kind of links golf that makes this event such a treat: sunshine at The Renaissance Club, a leaderboard packed with big names, and plenty of shots that looked equal parts brilliant and impossible.
Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are among five players tied for the lead at five-under par, while Scottie Scheffler sits three shots off the pace after a two-under 68. Jon Rahm, on the other hand, has plenty of ground to make up after opening with a three-over 73.
McIlroy wasted no time reminding everyone why he looks so comfortable on this stage. In his first tournament since finishing T32 at the U.S.
Open last month, he posted five birdies and an eagle with no sign of rust. The best moment of his day may not have been the scoring shot, though.
He also pulled off a bunker save on the par-3 ninth hole, which was his 18th hole of the round.
He added the eagle on the 594-yard par-5 first hole, going driver, 4-iron, eagle. McIlroy won this event in 2023 and was runner-up last year to Chris Gotterup, and his record at the Genesis Scottish Open keeps getting stronger. He has now shot 13 consecutive rounds in the 60s at the event.
Rahm came in with a clear purpose. Because this is a co-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, and with LIV Golf in a seven-week break, he used the week as a tune-up for the British Open.
Thursday, though, was a struggle. He went four-over on the front nine with four bogeys and no birdies, then added another bogey at the 11th before finally finding some momentum with back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16.
Scheffler’s round was a steadier mix of four birdies and two bogeys, and one of those birdies drew plenty of attention because of the line he took on the putt. The broadcast graphic didn’t look especially smart once he rolled it in. He also spent part of Wednesday night checking out the legendary North Berwick Golf Club, and later hit a shot over the famous stone wall in front of the 13th green.
Brooks Koepka also got off to a strong start. After a difficult year following his move from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour, the five-time major champion opened with a four-under 66.
He began with back-to-back bogeys, then turned it around with seven birdies over his final 16 holes. He said afterward that it “could have been a special round”.
He also missed putts from 2 feet, 5 feet and 6 feet, and nearly finished with a hole-in-one on the 9th hole, when his 210-yard shot lipped out to a foot.
Tom Kim is another name right at the top after carding six birdies and a bogey for a five-under 65. It’s been a rough season overall, but he showed signs of life last month with a third-place finish at the U.S.
Open at Shinnecock. Thursday’s round was also his ninth time in 17 starts at the Genesis Scottish Open that he has shot 67 or lower.
Chris Gotterup, who won here last year and then picked up his fifth career win last week at the John Deere Classic, is three shots back after a two-under 68. His round included a solid up-and-down for par after he found trouble on the second hole.
Links golf did what links golf does best on Thursday: it made the world’s best players solve problems they don’t usually see. And after a day like that, Friday should be fun.
In Other News...
Scottie Scheffler Ignites North Berwick Debate Over Respect And Tradition
Scottie Schefflers stop at North Berwick ahead of the Scottish Open was meant to be part of a routine stretch of preparation, a chance for the world No. 1 to get familiar with one of golfs most storied settings before the tournament week ramps up. The club welcomed the visit, and Scheffler got his work in on a course known for its traditional standards and deep history.
What turned a simple practice round into a talking point was the clothing choice, with the online reaction quickly splitting between those who saw it as a harmless sign of comfort and those who viewed it as a slight to the games customs. North Berwicks dress code still leans traditional, which only sharpened the debate, even as Scheffler keeps his attention on the bigger picture of getting ready for the events ahead. [Read more 🡒]