Straka Sets Target As Scheffler Makes Solid Scottish Open Start

Scottish Open first information leaderboard (finishers only)

-6 S Straka (Aut), J Knapp (US), N Echavarria (Col); -5 C Hill (Sco), M Siem (Ger); -4 W Clark (US); -3 S Scheffler (US), R Gerard (US), H Norlander (Swe), M McNealy (US), T Olesen (Den), J Vegas (Col), L Aberg (Swe); S Burns (US), A Del Rey (Spn), E Smylie (Aus)

Selected others: -2 R MacIntyre (Sco), C Morikawa (US); -1 J Thomas (US), P Harrington (Ire), A Scott (Aus)

Leaderboard

Sepp Straka group nan early target connected nan opening time of nan Scottish Open arsenic world number 1 Scottie Scheffler "hung successful location nicely" to beryllium ominously well-placed connected a congested leaderboard.

Austria's Straka, chasing his 3rd PGA Tour triumph of nan year, shared nan clubhouse lead connected six nether astatine nan Renaissance Club alongside American Jake Knapp and Nico Echavarria of Colombia.

Scotland's Bob MacIntyre opened his title defence pinch a two-under 68, 1 adrift of playing partner Scheffler.

Scotland's Calum Hill was 1 disconnected nan lead aft posting a blemish-free 65.

Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and chap existent awesome champion JJ Spaun are among nan day starters.

Given his mediocre Scottish Open record, and missing nan trim past year, Straka admits he arrived pinch "very debased expectations" contempt good caller form.

A razor-sharp short crippled helped him radiance this clip successful sun-baked East Lothian.

Starting connected nan par-five 10th, Straka sewage nan shot rolling pinch back-to-back birdies and was 4 nether astatine nan turn.

Three birdies successful a statement followed from nan 3rd to springiness nan European Ryder Cup prima nan outright lead earlier before he instantly wobbled pinch successive bogeys.

The consequence was magnificent, though, arsenic he chipped successful from near of nan eighth greenish to complete a good day's work.

"The game's been successful really bully style coming into here," Straka said. "The debased expectations travel from conscionable not having performed astatine this course.

"My short crippled was really nice. I chipped it really well, made immoderate putts and I deed nan shot okay. Driver was a small spot squirrely but short crippled saved maine today."

Scheffler opened pinch an eagle connected nan 10th and picked up a further 2 strokes, but an untidy decorativeness featured bogeys connected 4 and six.

"I wish I would person played a small spot amended aft that [eagle]," said nan American. "But overall, I felt for illustration I did immoderate bully things retired location and hung successful location nicely and put up a decent score."

MacIntyre battled a "cold putter" during a mixed opening information that included 4 birdies and 2 bogeys, while Hill upstaged his compatriot to subordinate Germany's Marcel Siem connected 5 under.