Summary

Have your say

  1. What are the layout changes?published at 10:04 BST 9 July

    Host course for the eighth straight year is the Renaissance Club - but not quite as we know it.

    The routing has been alerted this year in a bid to ramp up the drama and excitement over the closing stretch and bring fans nearer the action.

    The first seven holes of the front and back nine have switched places - so what was the first becomes the 10th and the second is now the 11th. Holes eight, nine, 17 and 18 remain the same.

    The changes mean the fan-favourite stadium hole - rebranded as 'The Thistle' - is now the 15th, one of two par threes in the final four holes.

    Players quizzed about the new layout in the build-up this week have been broadly positive, with Viktor Hovland remarking: "I do really like the routing change this year.

    "Obviously we play the same golf course, but at the same time, I do think it adds a little bit of excitement."

    Proper Scottish golf diehards will of course know that this year's routing was previously used when the Scottish Open was first staged at the Renaissance back in 2019.

  2. Postpublished at 09:59 BST 9 July

    McIlroy -1, MacIntyre E, Gotterup E (5)

    A straightforward birdie propels Rory McIlroy under par for the day. His second into the par four left him with a kick-in putt.

    American Chris Gotterup holes a cracking 25-footer to cancel out his earlier bogey and get back to even par.

    Bob MacIntyre should join McIlroy on one under, but his birdie putt inexplicably stays out of the hole.

  3. Duo setting the early pacepublished at 09:56 BST 9 July

    Quickest out of the traps are Bernd Wiesberger and Shaun Norris, who currently share the lead on four under.

    Austria's Wiesberger opened with a bogey on 10 before reeling off five birdies in the next seven holes. Impressive stuff.

    South African Norris has picked up birdies on one, five, six and seven.

  4. Postpublished at 09:49 BST 9 July

    McIlroy E, MacIntyre E, Gotterup +1 (4)

    It's been an eventful opening from this marquee trio.

    Starting on the 10th (which used to be the first, more on that shortly), Rory McIlroy and Bob MacIntyre each began with bogey.

    Both have bounced back with birdies - McIlroy on the par-five 12th and MacIntyre on 13 - but defending champ Gotterup remains one over after his bogey on 11.

  5. Welcome!published at 09:44 BST 9 July

    The sun is splitting the sky and a glorious day of golf is upon us.

    The 2026 Scottish Open is under way at the resplendent Renaissance Club in East Lothian.

    American big hitter Chris Gotterup defends his title and is out in a triumvirate of former champions alongside Rory McIlroy and Scotland's own Bob MacIntyre.

    Let's see how they are getting on...

    TrophyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Trophy