Inspired by Phil Mickelson's double Scottish Open and British Open title wins last year, Rory McIlroy began his run this weekend in superb form and sits as the clubhouse leader after a first round of -7 at the Aberdeen Asset management Scottish Open.
Seeking his second win of the year, his first coming at the BMW Championship at Wentworth in May, McIlroy closed with a new course record 64, one shot ahead of nearest rivals, Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez and two shots ahead of fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey.
The former British Amateur Champion, Hoey bogeyed the third hole and turned in one over par. But the back nine completely changed his day. Hoey covered the final four holes with eagle, par, birdie, birdie to card a 66, just two shots back of McIlroy.
Kevin Phelan opened his weekend promisingly with a two under 69. The Irishman went out in 36 and home in 33. His best finish of the year was T40 in the Nordea Masters at the beginning of last month.
Phelan's target will be to finish in the top 10 as three places remain available in next week's British Open in Hoylake for those in that top grouping, who are not already qualified for the Liverpool event.
Darren Clarke bogeyed the 18th hole but also ended with a two under par 69, while Padraig Harrington's five bogeys and five birdies left him with an opening level par 71.
But it was McIlroy who leads the field with just one bogey spoiling an otherwise perfect card. That came on the par 4 fourth hole but it didn’t knock the 25-year-old out of stride as he birdied two, five, eight and nine, which took him to the turn in 33, three under par.
In a monstrous down-wind drive at the 436 yard 13th hole, McIlroy knocked his ball onto the green. It rolled up the apron and among the feet and balls of the puzzled group in front, who were still taking their putts. He missed the putt but birdied the hole.
“Everything was pretty much on,” a delighted McIlroy said. “I controlled my ball flight really well which is the key to me playing well in these conditions and on these courses. “I’ve been working the last 10 days on keeping the ball down, hitting easy shots and taking spin off it and I went out there today and really trusted what I practiced.”
McIlroy revealed he had also driven the 13th in Wednesday’s pro-am, although it probably still came as a shock to the group ahead of Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jimmy Walker, who were still on the green.
“I’m driving the ball really well and I feel if I can get driver in my hand and have an advantage on the field I should do it,” he added.
“Going out this morning in these conditions I thought anything in the 60s would be a good score so to shoot something better than that is pleasing.”
McIlroy continued to build his round and scored best in a mid-card run of seven holes from eight to 14, which he played in six under par.
American defending champion Phil Mickelson shot a first round 68. He eagled the par 5 sixth hole and tuned in two under par with two birdies down the back nine and a bogey on the 18th hole leaving him three under par overall.
Shane Lowry finished his first round on one over par., out in 35 and back in 37.
Meanwhile Northen Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow shot 77 in the first round of the Women’s British Open Championship at Royal Rirkdale. She trails early leader Ayako Uehara by nine shots.
