Mcilroy 'close To Masters Level' In Taking Scottish Open Lead

Genesis Scottish Open 3rd information leaderboard

-11 R McIlroy (NI), C Gotterup (US); -9 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), M Penge (Eng), J Knapp (US), W Clark (US); -7 K Yu (TPE), S Straka (Aut), A Rozner (Fra), A Novak (US), T Kim (Kor), H English (US), L Aberg (Swe), M Schmid (Ger)

Selected others: -6 S Scheffler (US), -5 X Schauffele (US), V Hovland (Nor) -4 J Rose (Eng), G Forrest (Sco)

Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy says he is now adjacent to his Masters-winning shape aft putting himself successful premier position for different Scottish Open title pinch an imposing third-round 66 to stock nan lead.

The Northern Irishman began nan time 4 shots adrift of overnight leader Chris Gotterup but ended it alongside nan unheralded American connected 11 under.

The duo return a two-shot lead into nan last time aft English brace Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge some bogeyed nan past to paper one-under 69s and driblet into a stock of 3rd alongside Americans Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp.

McIlroy has endured a "lull" since completing nan profession Grand Slam astatine Augusta National successful April, but believes he is returning to his imperious champion arsenic he pursues a 2nd Scottish Open triumph successful 3 years.

He compiled 5 birdies - including connected each 3 par fives - pinch his sole bogey coming connected nan seventh aft having to hack retired of a fairway bunker.

The world number 2 intelligibly revels successful competing astatine nan Renaissance Club - posting nan joint-lowest information of nan time and his 11th consecutive people of 68 aliases little connected these links.

"I deliberation I'm beautiful adjacent to being backmost to nan level I was astatine going into nan Masters," said nan 36-year-old.

"I deliberation I've had a small spot of a lull, which I consciousness is understandable. When you do thing that you've been dreaming your full life to do, it was a immense infinitesimal successful my life, my career.

"I deliberation I conscionable needed that small spot of time. And to beryllium backmost present for past mates weeks, and consciousness for illustration I could really digest each of it, I consciousness for illustration I came to this tourney pinch renewed enthusiasm and excitement for nan remainder of nan year."

Gotterup, nan world number 158, followed his people record-equalling 61 pinch a level-par 70.

And Clark matched McIlroy's 66 invited to supply invited alleviation amid his torrid season.

The 2023 US Open victor has missed nan trim successful 2 of his past 3 events and mustered conscionable 1 top-10 decorativeness this year.

"It's conscionable bully to beryllium backmost successful this position and let's spot if I tin spell put a bully information together and person 4 coagulated days of golf," said Clark.

"I've deed a batch of bully putts each twelvemonth and conscionable haven't holed anything. Now it's bully to spot nan shot spell successful nan hole. Made a mates adjustments and they look to work."

Ludvig Aberg was huddled together for nan lead earlier a triple-bogey 7 connected nan 13th was sandwiched by bogeys arsenic he spilled 5 shots successful a wretched three-hole stretch.

The Swede's 71 leaves him 4 shots back.

World number 1 Scottie Scheffler is 1 further adrift aft a frustrating 71 successful which he had to hold until nan 13th for a first birdie.

Frenchman Romain Langasque provided a awesome infinitesimal pinch a spread successful 1 connected nan 145-yard par-three 14th.

Having scraped into nan weekend, defending champion Bob MacIntyre is 1 complete aft labouring to a 72.