Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

After starting the back nine with a birdie, Ewen Ferguson has another glimpse on 11 - hardest hole of the day at 0.33 over.

The putt is a fiendish downhiller, but he gives it a chance and isn't far away as the ball drifts past to the left.

The Scot remains handily perched at four under.

Image source, SNS

JJ Spaun flips his club in the air in exasperation as his dinked attempt lands a revolution or two short of dropping in for a smart par save.

Connor Syme watches his par putt miss by a similarly agonising margin. He probably won't be the first to record back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth, though.

Next up, Tommy Fleetwood, who also drops a shot.

Not the prettiest par three from the trio.

Another new name moves towards the top of the leaderboard as Canada's Taylor Pendrith nails his approach shot from 213 yards to just eight feet at the third hole.

He converts with the flat stick for a third birdie on the spin.

The front nine is playing a lot harder than the back so far in East Lothian, no doubt about that.

Front nine: +49

Back nine: -51

Playing the course one to 18 as opposed to those starting on the 10th today may be the preferred option for many players, giving them an easier time coming home and getting the tricky shots out of the way early on.

A dropped shot from Connor Syme, who has otherwise played good golf today. An entertaining watch across all three golfers here, that's for sure.

Tommy Fleetwood and JJ Spaun make a par and run to the next tee - the par-three ninth.

We mentioned Bud Cauley's fine round not long ago and the American sinks another birdie putt at the fifth hole.

He is now six under par, level with the clubhouse leaders.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Now it’s McIlroy’s turn on the ninth. What can he do?

Well, that wasn’t part of the plan. 10 yards back from the pin, on the left. It landed on the green, but caught a slope and rolled down and down.

Not the best, but it could’ve been worse. He’s on a nice bit of short grass. He putts up the hill, taking the slope into account… and almost sinks it! Only the best can do that.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

England's Matt Wallace hits the turn in one over after a decent birdie chance on 18 refuses to drop.

Playing partner Alex Noren is faring better but a first bogey of the day bogey drops the Swede to one under.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Incredible from Ryan Fox.

The Kiwi has put it to within two feet at the par-three ninth.

Considering the amount of major winners that have put it into the bunker left of the green, that’s a cut above.

He rolls in for birdie.

Image source, SNS

Andrew Southwick
BBC Scotland at the Scottish Open

A surprising name appears to be the favourite among the fans we asked at the Scottish Open.

While Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler all got customary mentions, the popular vote appears to be with Tommy Fleetwood.

The 34-year-old was sixth here last year, and fourth the year before. Is this his year?

Viktor Hovland splits the fairway at the tricky eighth hole, but his ball rolls into a deep divot and he does well to find the green.

The Norwegian two-putts for a well-made par, as do Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy.

American Bud Cauley is putting together a wonderful round here.

He birdies three and four to jump up the leaderboard and has only dropped one shot all day.

He's just one back of the clubhouse lead.

Dropped shot from Tommy Fleetwood as he misjudges a par putt from six feet or so.

Scotland's Connor Syme, however, makes birdie after a great approach shot and moves to two under.

JJ Spaun tidies up to remain two over.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Brian Harman is in the bunker to the left of the ninth green.

Fellow major winners Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas ended up there too earlier today. Just like those two, Harman somehow puts it within a foot.

Wizardry.

Si Woo Kim, probably checking in on us live texting away here, keeping an eye on what's going on across the course.

Cheers for the company.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Matt Fitzpatrick has a tricky one from the right of an undulating green. He flights it perfectly, and it rolls an inch past! A big “oooooh” from the crowd.

Great effort. Ewen Ferguson leaves his much shorter.

JJ Spaun's woes continue as follows through awkwardly with his driver and looks to his caddie, presumably, for some answers as the ball flies well right and into the thick rough at seven.

Tommy Fleetwood and Connor Syme are fine, though. The former's shot trickles off into the first cut, but it shouldn't be a problem.

A par apeice for Tommy Fleetwood and Connor Syme, much to the delight of the home crowd.

JJ Spaun can't follow them though and bogeys the par-three sixth in front of the heaving crowds.

He'll be disappointed with that, the American.

Lucky boy, Viktor Hovland.

His second shot from the fairway bunker on seven flies into the lip, but ricochets into the middle of the fairway.

He finds the green safely with his third and along with Rory McIlroy, holes a nervy little putt to save his par.

No such worries for Xander Schauffele, who pours in a lengthy birdie putt to go two-under par.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

I was lucky enough to be here last year on Sunday, when Bob MacIntyre crowned himself king in his homeland.

It was mobbed that day, as fans flocked to see their darling Scot win.

Today feels almost as busy - and it’s day one! The glorious weather helps, as does the star-studded field, but it feels quite unprecedented.