Rory McIlroy has demonstrated remarkable form at The Renaissance Club, leading the Scottish Open by one stroke entering the final round. As the prestigious tournament serves as a key preparatory event for The Open Championship, McIlroy aims to build essential momentum heading into the major tournament.
From the tee to the green, McIlroy has been nothing short of exceptional. Holding the top spot in strokes gained off the tee, strokes gained tee-to-green, and strokes gained overall, he has illustrated his dominance throughout the event. Additionally, McIlroy has recorded the longest driving distance, averaging an impressive 337.1 yards per tee shot.
Following his 3-under 67 round on Saturday, McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was another really good round of golf. Very solid.” Reflecting on his play over the last few days, McIlroy acknowledged leaving a few shots on the course while navigating tricky conditions. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about his position, eagerly looking forward to the final round and the test it will present.
Inclement weather forecasts for Scotland’s east coast prompted officials to move up Saturday’s tee times. However, the earlier start and challenging conditions did not faze McIlroy, who navigated The Renaissance Club seamlessly, replicating his strong showings from the previous two days.
McIlroy set the stage for his remarkable performance with birdies on two of his first three holes, followed by another at the 7th. The highlight of the day came at the 10th hole, where he hit a remarkable 6-iron shot from 232 yards, leaving himself with a putt for eagle. Although he narrowly missed the putt, settling for his fourth birdie, McIlroy’s striking precision propelled him to the lead.
While McIlroy struggled with his putting throughout the week, currently ranking 60th in strokes gained: putting, his exceptional ball-striking ability has compensated for this shortcoming. His strong form has allowed him to maintain the lead heading into the final round of the tournament.
With the wind picking up towards the end of his round, McIlroy faced challenges at the 12th and 15th holes, resulting in bogeys. However, a crucial birdie at the par-3 14th, coupled with consistent play on the final three holes, secured an even-par 35 on the back nine, preserving his one-shot lead over Tom Kim.
In anticipation of extreme winds in the forecast for Sunday, Scottish Open officials once again adjusted tee times, introducing split tees and threesomes. McIlroy will find himself in the final pairing, alongside Tom Kim and Tommy Fleetwood. Teeing off at 3:57 a.m. ET, McIlroy remains focused on adapting to the challenging weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of controlling his ball flight amidst the strong gusts.
As the entire field anticipates a challenging Sunday, McIlroy holds a significant advantage with his 13-under score. Other competitors will need to mount a formidable challenge unless McIlroy falters. A victory at the Scottish Open would mark his first PGA Tour win of the year, granting him invaluable momentum ahead of the forthcoming Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The Business Press 