Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay part of five-way tie for lead at Genesis Scottish Open

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy began getting into the mood for the final major of the year by taking advantage of the par 5s at The Renaissance Club, shooting a 5-under 65 to earn a share of the first-round lead Thursday at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet season with five birdies over a 10-hole stretch before relying on a series of clutch par saves down the stretch. He also shot 65, joining Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger and Rasmus Højgaard atop the leaderboard.

Højgaard was the only player among the leaders to play in the afternoon, when the wind began to ease. He reached 6 under with four holes to play but found a bunker off the 16th tee, hit into the rough and made double bogey to fall back into the tie.

Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player searching for his first victory since January, made three straight birdies around the turn before a lengthy three-putt bogey on the 11th. A drive into a bunker on the par-5 12th kept him from reaching the green, and Scheffler failed to birdie any of the course's three par 5s in a 68.

“Wish I could have gotten a few more shots out of it,” Scheffler said. “I like to keep a clean card, so two bogeys hurt. Maybe could have played the par 5s a little bit better. But overall, nothing crazy. Just a decent day.”

McIlroy felt much the same. Although he was tied for the 18-hole lead for the first time since the Masters, he didn't consider it anything extraordinary beyond taking advantage of the easiest scoring opportunities.

McIlroy holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-5 first hole, he started on No. 10 and added birdies on the other two par 5s at The Renaissance Club. That accounted for much of his scoring.

He had been away from competition the past two weeks following a pedestrian performance at the U.S. Open, though he believes his game has continued to trend in the right direction. Shinnecock Hills may be as close to links golf as any course in America, while The Renaissance Club has the look of a links layout despite not being played on traditional links turf.

The real test comes next week at Royal Birkdale for The Open Championship.

“I felt like I drove the ball particularly well, and I started to see that at Shinnecock, 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 hasn't won in nearly four years and slipped to No. 37 in the world after missing the cut at the U.S. Open, his lowest ranking in more than eight years. He entered the week with three top-10 finishes and four additional top 20s. It hasn't been a poor season, but it has lacked a spark.

He switched to a slightly heavier putter to adjust to the slower greens this week and next, and the change paid off with birdies early and key par saves late. His best save came on the par-5 seventh, where he found a pot bunker off the tee and could only advance back into the fairway, leaving 261 yards for his third shot. He still managed to get up and down, holing a 13-foot putt for par.

Cantlay followed with a 5-foot par save on the eighth and then got up and down from just inside 100 feet off the ninth green to preserve a bogey-free round.

“I've been putting in some hard work with my team, and have got some important golf the rest of the year,” Cantlay said.

The Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, making it an ideal stop for players looking to acclimate ahead of The Open, whether to the seaside conditions, time zone or slightly slower greens.

It's also the final opportunity for players such as Michael Thorbjornsen, who opened with a 67, to earn a spot in the field at Royal Birkdale. The top three finishers not already exempt will qualify, and Thorbjornsen entered the week as the fourth alternate.

Brooks Koepka, who appears to have recovered from the nerve issue in his left hand that forced him to withdraw from the Canadian Open while in contention, said putting has been the biggest obstacle in his season. That showed Thursday as he missed four putts from 7 feet or closer, including one from 20 inches. He also made three birdie putts from beyond 20 feet and was part of a seven-way tie at 66.

Nearly half of the 156-player field broke par.

“It could have been a very, very good round. But then again, I'm happy with the way I battled back,” Koepka said. “That was solid. So hopefully take that into tomorrow.”