GULLANE, Scotland — Byeong Hun An performed effectively sufficient within the Scottish Open on Thursday that he had purpose to hope he can stick round for extra hyperlinks golf subsequent week.
An ran off 4 straight birdies early in his spherical at The Renaissance Membership and closed with a 25-foot birdie putt on the powerful par-3 ninth gap for a 9-under 61, giving him a two-shot lead over Davis Riley.
An had his finest rating on the PGA Tour — the Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the European tour — and it got here at simply the precise time. That is the ultimate event for gamers to attempt to earn a spot in The Open subsequent week at Royal Liverpool. The main three gamers not already exempt will earn spots.
“It is a type of days, each shot you hit simply has an ideal quantity,” An stated. “Pitched proper, how the ball reacted on the greens, every thing was good. Among the putts I had have been very easy putts that I believe I left in a great place. All the things went rather well.”
Rory McIlroy had few complaints after taking a two-week break from competitors, a lot of that point with out touching a membership. He holed an eagle putt and made six birdies to offset a number of errors for a 64, leaving him tied with Thomas Detry.
“It is an important begin, and I’d have taken it earlier than I teed off,” McIlroy stated.
Riley performed within the afternoon when the wind obtained a bit of stronger and took as a lot delight in his par putts as a few of his seven birdies.
Riley already has one eye on subsequent week, his Open Championship debut. He narrowly missed out final 12 months and clinched a spot when he shot 66 within the ultimate spherical at Bay Hill, which provided three Open spots to high finishers.
Riley first got here to Scotland in 2014 as a part of the Junior Ryder Cup staff. That wasn’t on a hyperlinks course, and The Renaissance Membership has solely the look of hyperlinks — it isn’t true hyperlinks soil. It is nonetheless not a nasty check for what awaits at Royal Liverpool.
Collin Morikawa credited his expertise at The Renaissance Membership to serving to him win The Open in 2021. Riley may sense and really feel methods to flight pictures and use the bottom.
“It is a lot completely different than enjoying golf within the States,” Riley stated. “It is simply a lot enjoyable, flighting pictures, maneuvering it with the wind and enjoying slopes, part of the sport that I actually take pleasure in.
“As agency because it will get, you may make the most of some slopes. That is the perfect half about it’s there’s 1,000,000 alternative ways to hit the shot proper and that is what’s so enjoyable about it. That half in the present day, I loved, and that was a giant a part of the explanation I performed effectively.”
He has been on the lookout for momentum anyplace he can discover. His season obtained off to a gradual begin till he gained the Zurich Traditional — the lone staff occasion on the PGA Tour — in New Orleans with Nick Hardy. In his eyes, Riley had his second straight spherical of 7-under par. He shot a 7-under 65 within the ultimate spherical of the Rocket Mortgage Traditional two weeks in the past.
“I am simply attempting to take that and carry it over,” he stated. Riley managed simply that on a course nothing like Detroit Golf Membership in a city nothing like Detroit.
McIlroy is enjoying the Scottish Open for under the seventh time as a professional relationship to 2008. He has but to complete within the high 10, and he missed the reduce at The Renaissance Membership in 2021.
“I have never had significantly nice experiences round this golf course the final couple occasions I’ve performed,” McIlroy stated. “However I really feel like my sport is certainly in higher form than the final couple occasions I’ve performed The Scottish Open. Nice begin. Managed my ball properly.”
Detry certified for The Open in ultimate native qualifying at a hyperlinks course and referred to this place as his “dwelling backyard.”
Max Homa and Tom Kim have been amongst these at 66, whereas Rickie Fowler was within the group at 67 in his first begin since profitable in Detroit.
Justin Thomas determined to modify to a cross-handed placing grip on his ultimate 9 holes of the Rocket Mortgage Traditional (he missed the reduce) and caught with it. The transfer labored effectively sufficient for him to scratch out a 68, becoming a member of the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick.
For some gamers, a warmup for The Open might be a brief one.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele shot even-par 70 and can begin Friday exterior the reduce line. Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth have been at 72.
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