Double Major winning Rory McIlroy has put himself into the Royal Aberdeen record books with a new course record of a seven-under 64 on the opening day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
McIlroy grabbed eight birdies including four in succession from the eighth hole to end the day one shot clear of Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez.
Officially it had Broberg who ended his round some two hours before McIlroy to break the record before McIlroy while Gonzalez eagled the 12th to move to eight under par but then bogeyed 13 and 16 also in a 65.
Rory McIlroy striding to a new Royal Aberdeen course record. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
The 25-year old McIlroy, and competing on the course for a first time in his career, lowered the existing by two shots and held previously by Royal Aberdeen’s Mark Halliday who posted a 66 in a medal outing on 22nd August, 2010.
Halliday, who was playing off plus 4 has also won the club championship on more than one occasion, had went out in 35 compared to McIlroy’s 33 but then came home in 31 just as McIlroy did today.
McIlroy’s record low adds to a growing number of course records in the possession of the 25-year old.
The pick of those is an Old Course record of 63 set on the opening day of the 2010 Open Championship and a similar score in the 2009 WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
“It depends where it is whether or not setting a new course record is special to me but then there is a few that are a little better than the others,” he said.
“I just hope nobody betters the 61 I shot at Royal Portrush as I have been holding onto that one for years.
“But it was just a great start and anytime you can start a tournament like that you have to be very pleased and it’s obviously something I can build on for the next three days.
“More importantly I was more pleased in how I controlled my game out there and controlled my ball flight, and after having practiced those shots over the last ten days it was good to go out and trust it today in a tournament round.
“So regardless of the score, the way I played today was just the most pleasing thing and if I can play like that over these next few days going into next week, then that is what I need to do and the type of golf I have to play at Royal Liverpool.”
McIlroy’s impressive display off the tee was no better highlighted when he drove the green at the downwind 436-yard (399-meter) par four 13thand much to the amazement of the three ball in front that included defending champion Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald and Holland’s Joost Luiten.
Broberg had just 24 putts in his round and four less than McIlroy.
Two years ago the softly-spoken Swede made a bit noise in rewriting the secondary Challenge Tour records in winning four events to secure his main European Tour card.
And while Broberg Swede struggled last year in his rookie season with injury he has recently began to rekindle the form of two years ago, and virtually wrapping up his Tour card for 2015 with a share of third in the recent Irish Open.
The previous Royal Aberdeen course low of 66 set by triple club champion Mark Halliday. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I played really, really well and I hit very good shots and a lot of close ones, so this helps a bit,” he said.
And kept me away from those bunkers and stayed patient.”
Donald along with Scotland’s Marc Warren are well placed with four under par 67s and one fewer than Mickelson and with the defending champion eagling the sixth hole but then dropping a shot at the last.
And former US Amateur champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick set about justifying his late invitation into the event with a two under par 69.
