Rory McIlroy makes spectacular return at Scottish Open as Justin Thomas claims early lead

Rory McIlroy bounced again from his US Open heartbreak to make a robust begin to the defence of his Scottish Open title as first-round chief Justin Thomas narrowly missed out on creating historical past.

Competing for the primary time since agonisingly lacking out on a fifth main title at Pinehurst, McIlroy carded a five-under-par 65 on the Renaissance Membership to lie three photographs behind chief Thomas, who returned a flawless 62.

Simply the second 59 in DP World Tour historical past was a definite risk when Thomas coated his first 13 holes in eight beneath on the par-70 format, however the two-time main winner may solely par the final 5 holes.

.”I thought the par was 71 and then I looked up and I saw it was 70 and I was like, ‘I just need a couple more’ (birdies) and I can shoot 59,” Thomas mentioned.

“After which, stunning, I made 5 pars in a row in order that form of p***** me off. I positively wished a 59 and was even pondering a pair decrease, so everyone knows how that works out once you get forward of your self.

“But it’s always good to get off to a good start, and even better to get off to a great one. I felt like I was in great control of everything.”

On a day of low scoring, Thomas loved a one-shot lead over South Korea’s Sungjae Im, with Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg on six beneath and McIlroy half of a giant group on 5 beneath which included Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick.

McIlroy chipped in for an eagle on the third gap, his twelfth of the day, and likewise recorded 5 birdies, however missed good possibilities on three of his final 5 holes.

“I hit a couple of shots over the first few holes that I haven’t seen in practice over the last 10 days so it was a bit of a reminder that golf isn’t as easy as sometimes I think it is,” McIlroy mentioned with a smile.

“But then I really started to feel good. Especially on the front nine, our back nine, I started to hit some good drives, some good iron shots.

“I gave myself loads of possibilities on that again 9 and really felt like I left a pair on the market as effectively. Total begin, particularly after the scrappy begin over the primary six or seven holes.”

McIlroy briefly held a two-shot lead with 5 holes to play within the US Open however bogeyed three of the final 4, lacking from two toes and 6 inches on the sixteenth and three toes and 9 inches on the final to complete a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.

“I’m not going to let three or four holes cloud my judgement in terms of how good I’m playing,” the 35-year-old added.

“It wasn’t just the US Open. I played well at the Canadian Open and at Memorial and the US PGA and Quail Hollow. My game has been in good shape and it was in good shape coming in here.

“It is only a matter of going on the market and specializing in the duty at hand and never letting your thoughts wander an excessive amount of. I felt like I did job of that right now.”

Fleetwood, who lost out in a play-off for this event in 2020, was delighted to have long-term caddie Ian Finnis back on the bag after undergoing open-heart surgery earlier this year.

“It feels nice,” Fleetwood said after a round containing five birdies and no bogeys.

“It feels good to have had a very good spherical in his first week, for him greater than something. We did an ideal job. All the things kind of flowed, actually, right now. He made a few nice choices, so it is like he isn’t been away.”

Home favourite Robert MacIntyre, who was denied victory 12 months ago by a stunning birdie-birdie finish by McIlroy in testing conditions, carded five birdies and two bogeys in an opening 68.

Watch Rory McIlroy in PGA Tour and DP World Tour action live this season on Sky Sports. Watch the Genesis Scottish Open live on Friday from 9.30am on Sky Sports Golf, before the 152nd Open at Royal Troon from July 18-21. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and extra with NOW.

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