Summary

  • Follow live updates

  • Defending champion Bob MacIntyre squeezes into weekend on one-under

  • Chris Gotterup holds lead at -11 after course-record equalling 61

  • Rory McIlroy four shots back after a 65 & Ludvig Aberg is three off lead

Live Reporting

Jack Herrall, George O'Neill & Andrew Petrie

  1. Sun-kissed Scotland. Yes, seriously!

    "Torvil and Dean would feel at home here," says Wayne Riley on Sky Sports, commenting on the sun-kissed shimmer the short grass has taken on here.

    He's not wrong.

    It is simply glorious out there.

    David ReillyGetty Images

    Davis Reilly sends a short putt towards the hole on the perfectly manicured green

  2. Big names expected to fall

    Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, Luke Donald, JJ Spaun, and Rasmus Hojgaard are currently under the projected cut line.

    I hate to point out, but at two under, defending champion Bob MacIntyre is flirting with it. His second shot at the seventh has gone even further left.

  3. Which Scots will make cut?

    Well, if it remains at two under...

    Scots Connor Syme, Ewen Ferguson, and Richie Ramsay will not be playing on Saturday and Sunday right now.

    Callum Hill and Bob MacIntyre are perched precariously on two under as it stands.

    Grant Forrest is flying at two under for the day, five under overall and through 17 holes, so he should be fine.

    Grant ForrestGetty Images

    Grant Forrest is the best-placed home favourite as it stands

  4. Projected cut update

    As it stands, the cut line has moved.

    The afternoon wave have nudged the cut to two under par, meaning a score of one under or worse, and you're away home for the weekend.

    Or it's time for some early Portrush scouting.

  5. MacIntyre -2 (6)

    That's not how Bob would have wanted to follow up. His tee shot on the seventh is so far left that it ends up on a walkway near the fairway on the adjacent eighth hole.

    He's gotten pretty lucky there. Or maybe he just wanted to take the scenic route?

  6. Straka -7 (6)

    Sepp Straka finds himself in the thick stuff well left of the seventh fairway.

    Most would assess this as a flick out with a wedge and maybe a nine iron into the green... that's why I'm reporting on this and not playing in it though, eh?

    He manages to get a wood behind the ball and fly it some 220+ yards to the back edge of the green.

    Wow.

  7. It's a tough life, isn't it Brian?

  8. High tea in the coastal sunshine

    Brian McLauchlin
    BBC Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    A small snack to keep us going at the Scottish Open.

    High tea at the Scottish Open

  9. Bob bounces back 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    MacIntyre -2 (6)

    Andrew Petrie
    BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    Bob makes his way to the sixth green, with the grandstand on it's feet. One chap is holding a Scottish flag.

    His approach is close to the pin but crucially, off the green. But that doesn't faze him! He holes it and the crowd goes wild - that's easily the biggest cheer of the day.

    Back to two under and level for the day.

  10. Johnny Vegas climbs leaderboard

    Vegas -6 (6)

    I'm not saying we've manifested this, but we've been keeping a keen eye on Venezualan golfer Jhonattan Vegas for obvious reasons.

    He's three under through six today and is on a little charge. I hope his playing partners are asking for... Tips.

    I'm here all weekend.

    Jhonattan VegasGetty Images

    Jhonattan Vegas fist bumps his caddy

  11. MacIntyre -2, Scheffler -4, Scott -1 (6)

    George O'Neill
    BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    The trio on the fifth green let the group behind them tee off before they finish up and one of the tee shots manages to nutmeg Scottie Scheffler from 320 yards away.

    Big cheers from the crowd.

    Bob MacIntyre then three-putts for a disappointing bogey before Adam Scott’s birdie effort cruelly lipped out.

    Scottie Scheffler’s birdie was a sure thing.

  12. Straka -7, Canter -3, Thomas -1 (5)

    Sepp Straka gets in for a birdie on the fifth - it's playing as the easiest hole on the course right now.

    This now trio heads to the par-three sixth next, and Justin Thomas finds a deep bunker. A remarkable recovery shot follows to give him a chance at par.

    Laurie Canter leaves his birdie shot one revolution short and taps in for par.

    His two playing partners tidy up for par.

  13. MacIntyre -2, Scheffler -4, Scott -1 (4)

    George O'Neill
    BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    The pin at the fifth hole is in a little crater, Bob MacIntyre’s approach shot is on a great line but has a tiny bit too much pace and runs over one of the slopes to the edge of the green.

    Scottie Scheffler shows him the way, riding one of the contours and leaving his ball inches away for birdie.

    What a player.

  14. MacIntyre -2, Scheffler -4, Scott -1 (4)

    The par-four fifth is getable from the tee today, it's around 315ish yards to the front edge of the green.

    A low-flying driver from Scottie Scheffler races towards that spot.

    Bob Macintyre is away wide on the left in the thick stuff, while Adam Scott has found the left of green in the first cut of rough.

  15. MacIntyre -2, Scheffler -4, Scott -1 (4)

    George O'Neill
    BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    From a divot in the fairway, Bob MacIntyre sends his approach shot pin-high left at the fourth.

    The defending champion’s shot is met with oohs and ahhs - roughly 12ft left for birdie.

    Scottie Scheffler’s ball lands near MacIntyre’s, but rolls off the green into a little collection area.

    The American putts through the fringe to leave an easy par, while MacIntyre’s effort just runs out of pace and he too will make par.

  16. Perfect early conditions lead to plenty of low scores

    I doubt Chris Gitterup's 61 will be beaten today, but there's been plenty of other low scorers.

    Andrew Novak fought back from two over yesterday to card a 63, jumping 96 places as it stands.

    Francesco Laporta was another big mover with a 64, now sitting five under alongside Novak.

    Kristoffer Reitan and Harris English were both staring at the cut after their first round, but 65s have them preparing for the weekend.

    Francesco LaportaGetty Images

    Francesco Laporta has come from nowhere to seal his weekend place

  17. Straka -6, Canter -3, Thomas -1 (4)

    England's Laurie Canter sinks a well-judged birdie putt to move to four under.

    Sepp Straka makes a par, as does Justin Thomas, but he walks off the green shaking his head in disbelief at not making a birdie.

  18. Penge adds to strong English contingent at top

    Penge -8 (67)

    We've not mentioned him today, but Marco Penge is one to watch. He's carded an impressive 67 and now finds himself joint third with Matt Fitzpatrick.

    He's still a relative unknown to most out here. I watched earlier as he walked from the second to third, with nary an acknowledgement from the crowd.

    If his pride was bruised, he didn't show it. He was two under through the front and three under through the back - despite a bogey and a double.

  19. MacIntyre -2, Scheffler -4, Scott -1 (3)

    A fairly long look at birdie for Scottie Scheffler, no sweat for him though as he pours it in the middle of the cup.

    Adam Scott does likewise and gets under par with a birdie.

    Bob MacIntyre is up next. He takes his putting stance and rolls it towards the hole, but it breaks late to the left, and he pars the third.

  20. George O'Neill
    BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

    “Watch yourself,” says Bob MacIntyre to Scottie Scheffler as the Scot assesses a tricky lie in the bunker.

    He needn’t have worried. A beautiful shot splashes out of the sand and rolls down the hill, leaving a nice distance for birdie.