Rory McIlroy is part of a five-way tie for the lead after the opening round of the Genesis Scottish Open, with Scottie Scheffler also in contention after a solid start.
McIlroy marked his first start since the US Open by posting a five-under 65 at The Renaissance Club, seeing him share top spot with Patrick Catnlay, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tom Kim and Bernd Wiesberger.
The world No 2 carded an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys during a solid opening day, three years on from winning the event, while Brooks Koepka is among a seven-strong contingent a shot off the pace.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood are in the group two back containing home favourite Bob MacIntyre and US Open champion Wyndham Clark, while Scheffler is three behind alongside defending champion Chris Gotterup.
A congested leaderboard sees 71 players separated by just five strokes after the opening round, although PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai posted a one-over 71 and Jon Rahm needed two late birdies to salvage a three-over 73.
Starting on the back nine, McIlroy bogeyed his opening hole of the day but responded with a two-putt birdie at the par-five 12th ahead of picking up shots at the 14th and 16th.
McIlroy failed to get up and down to save par at the 18th but rolled in an 18-foot eagle at the par-five first, with the six-time major winner missing multiple birdie looks over his second nine before finding back-to-back gains from the seventh.
"I felt like I drove the ball particularly well and I started to see that at Shinnecock (US Open), as well," McIlroy said. "A continuation of putting the ball in play, and then once I do that, I feel like I can attack courses and I can set up scoring opportunities. I did that today."
Cantlay posted five birdies in a bogey-free round and Weisberger briefly held the solo lead until a penultimate-hole bogey, with Hojgaard also getting to six under before a double-bogey at the par-four 16th halted his progress.
The Dane was the best of the afternoon wave after birdieing the par-three 17th but was unable to find another at the last to regain top spot, with Kim completing the quintet in the lead after carding a five-under 65 earlier in the day.
Clark sits within two of the lead despite carding a double-bogey and bogey in the first four holes, while - mixed four birdies with two bogeys in his two-under 68.
"I did some good stuff," Scheffler said. "Wish I could have gotten a few more shots out of it but, overall, I think pretty solid. I like to keep a clean card, so two bogeys hurts and maybe could have played the par-fives a little bit better."
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