Everything you need to know from day two in Scotland.
McIlroy led the way, Hatton went low, Colsaerts hit the perfect shot at last and shows were put on with every club in the bag on day two of the Genesis Scottish Open.
Here is everything you need to know from Friday at The Renaissance Club.
McIlroy the man to catch in Scotland
Rory McIlroy will take a one-shot lead into the weekend as he goes in search of a second consecutive Rolex Seriestriumph. The World Number Three put on a stunning display of iron play in a 66 that moved him to ten under on a day when heavy rain on Scotland's Golf Coast tested the world's very best. England's Tyrrell Hatton mastered the conditions as he carded a DP World Tour career-low 62 to sit at nine under alongside South Korean pair Byeong-hun An and Tom Kim, who fired rounds of 70 and 65 respectively. "I hit the ball really well tee-to-green, gave myself a ton of looks," said McIlroy. "Honestly it felt like four under was probably the worst I could have shot out there. But you know, it's swings and roundabouts. I holed a couple of long ones yesterday to shoot a good score and then missed a couple today but overall, really pleased with how the last two days went."
Tyrrell loving links life
Tyrrell Hatton continued his love affair with Rolex Series and links golf as he matched the lowest round of his DP World Tour career with a 62. The Englishman is a two-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and four-time Rolex Series winner, with his three top tens at Scotland's national open all coming over links layouts. He has never finished outside the top 25 at The Renaissance Club and on Friday carded nine birdies and a single bogey to get to nine under in North Berwick. "I've been fortunate," he said. "I've got a fairly decent record on links courses and it's nice to play in front of an almost home crowd. I've generally always putted well on links courses. And like every single tournament we play, you have to putt well to give yourself a chance to win on Sunday. So let's hope the putts keep dropping."
Nico ends long wait for an ace
Nicolas Colsaerts ended his near 23-year wait for a professional hole-in-one in spectacular style with an ace at the 14th. Stood 174 yards from the pin, he took a swipe with a pitching wedge and saw his ball land left of the hole, take a nice bounce and roll its way into the cup, sparking wild celebrations on the tee box. "I've been chasing a hole-in-one in professional golf for 20-something years," he said. "I'm super happy that it happens to be in Scotland. I've always played well in the Scottish Open. I've had a special relationship with these people since day one."
That's one way to do it
When most players drive to the fringe on a par four, they cannot wait to get out the putter, but An decided he was going to use the wedge anyway. Unorthodox but he made his birdie.
Drives on five
Every time a player drives a green on a par four this week, we will plant 100 trees as part of the DP World Tour's Green Drive - and it wasn't just An having a go.
Scottie Scheffler drives the green 🚀
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 14, 2023
For every player who drives the fifth green 100 trees will be planted. #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/GDVXWuj6LA
No putter required
It wasn't just the tee-shits that were producing some magic.
Lowry making monsters
And when the putter was required, Shane was putting on a show.
He's at it again 👏@ShaneLowryGolf holes a 34ft putt to get to -7 for the day.#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries https://t.co/K4sDoTI6Qf pic.twitter.com/EnHnaoATMg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 14, 2023