Rory McIlroy co‑leads Scottish Open, weighs in on PGA Tour reforms

Rory McIlroy opened the Genesis Scottish Open with a five‑under 65, sharing the early lead with Tom Kim, Patrick Cantlay, Bernd Wiesberger and others. He hit an eagle on the first par‑5 and posted solid birdies, while fellow world‑ranked players such as Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm were also in contention.

Ahead of the tournament, McIlroy discussed the PGA Tour’s upcoming two‑tier structure, urging that national opens retain open‑entry traditions and warning they could lose their identity if made exclusive. He cited the Scottish Open as a “blueprint” for how co‑sanctioned events can strengthen other national opens, referencing a potential co‑sanctioned Canadian Open.

McIlroy also spoke about his recent practice visits to Royal Birkdale, where a brief interview with Sir Nick Faldo was recorded, and his appreciation for the links‑style courses ahead of next week’s Open Championship. He welcomed fellow LIV golfer Jon Rahm to the field, emphasizing the benefit of having the world’s best players compete together.