Rory McIlroy made it look easy in posting a four-under par 67 on day one of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open near Gullane.

McIlroy grabbed six birdies to end the round trailing four shots from the front on the Renaissance course to the east of Edinburgh.

Rory McIlroy looking pretty proud with himself after posting a four-under par 67 on day one of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (Photo @tourmiss)

The foursome of the Italian duo of Edoardo Molinari and Nino Bertasio plus Frenchman Romain Wattel and visiting American Matt Kuchar head the field thanks to eight-under par 63s.

McIlroy was at his best over the opening nine grabbing birdies at the second, and fourth holes, and where he brilliantly ‘stiffed’ his second shot to just two-feet, along with birdies at six and the seventh.

He dropped shots at eight and 11 but regained those with birdies at 12 and 16.

“I thought I played quite nicely as I was 4-under through seven but then made a couple bogeys around the turn but then the wind picked-up on the back nine, so I felt like I did what I needed to do,” said McIlroy.

“I birdied the two par-5s and it was sort of tough to get it close to the holes coming in just because the wind had picked up.

“So overall, pretty pleased with how the day went.

“Looking at the board the scores are low, but it’s only the first round, and four-under is a decent start.”