As Martin mentioned a moment ago, Matt Wallace is battling to make the cut, but there's a lot more on the line for the European contingent this week with the Ryder Cup around the corner.

Captain Luke Donald is in the field, playing with Harry Hall and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen - another pair with an outside look at a captain's pick, the latter perhaps more so.

Rory McIlroy is already qualified, and some of the spots will be viewed as formalities at this point. The last two or three spots, though, are up for grabs for anyone who can make a real impression.

Speaking in the build-up to the tournament earlier this week, Donald said that Europe's Ryder Cup hopefuls are entering "the two biggest weeks left before qualification ends" for the biennial match against the United States.

Read more from Luke Donald here.

Image source, Getty Images

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Just the six birdies on the front nine for Chris Gotterup as he takes the outright lead.

The Amerian hits the turn in a meagre 29 blows having drained a 30-footer for a birdie two on nine.

Now he's on the green of the par-five 10th in two.

Viktor Hovland confidently rolls in a birdie putt at the 18th, with Xander Schauffele also tapping in for birdie.

Rory McIlroy does well to two-putt from 40ft for his par.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Will England's Matt Wallace be around for the weekend? He'd better get a shift on.

The Englishman is currently three shots adrift of the projected one-under cut line.

A par on the ninth completes his front round in one over, mainly due to a horror start - he was three over through two holes today.

Connor Syme is off the green on the par-three 17th and takes his putting stance about six feet below the hole. He sends the ball up an enormous swell in the green before it stops a few feet shy of the hole. A tidy par putt follows.

A similarly swerving but much flatter putt for JJ Spaun stops short, and he too tidies up for a three.

Tommy Fleetwood also pars it.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

I’ve walked down to the 18th grandstand, a pilgrimage taken by seemingly everyone from the 17th.

From up here, you can the army of ants crawling along the ropes, following Rory McIlroy’s every move.

Yet it’s Xander Schauffele who steals the show with his approach, placing the ball two feet from the flag with unbelievable precision.

The par-five 16th is playing as the easiest hole on the course right now, only one of them gets a shot back, though.

Tommy Fleetwood's eagle putt pulls up a foot or so shy of the cup, leaving him a kick-in for birdie and he sinks it.

JJ Spaun and Connor Syme can only card a par after two errant tee shots.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

I said it yesterday, I’ll say it again today. This is a Sunday crowd.

But it’s actually 10.30am on the Friday - huge interest given this stacked field.

Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele both make par at the tricky par-three 17th, but Viktor Hovland can only manage a bogey after his wayward tee shot.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

I’m stood between the 17th green and the 18th tee, where Justin Rose, Aldrich Potgieter and Ryan Fox have just passed through.

It may be before 10.30am, but airport rules have been applied - the beers are cold and they are flowing. Plenty are already with pint.

In the distance, Viktor Hovland tees off. There’s a shout of “fore!” as it lands in the rough to the right of the green, a few yards in front of the already thick and sweaty crowd.

It's good to see Tommy Fleetwood getting back under par for his tournament.

Bouncing back from that defeat to Keegan Bradley can't have been easy, but he's going well today in pretty generous conditions.

Wielding a lightsaber of sorts seems like an unfair advantage though...

Image source, Getty Images

JJ Spaun finds his way back to level par with a birdie on the par-four 15th.

Tommy Fleetwood and Connor Syme scribble a four on their cards.

A brilliant up-and-down from Rory McIlroy delivers a fifth (!) birdie of the morning and he joins Matti Schmid, Victor Perez, Keith Mitchell and Chris Gotterup at seven under.

Xander Schauffele's eagle putt lips out cruelly and he has to make do with birdie, as does Viktor Hovland, who can't believe his eagle attempt didn't drop.

Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele both have very good looks for eagle after stunning approach shots to the par-five 16th, but Rory McIlroy is off the back of the green having found the left rough off the tee.

A delicate wedge shot coming up for the Northern Irishman...

• 1. Matti Schmid -8 (10)
• T2. Victor Perez -7 (11)
• T2. Keith Mitchell -7 (8)
• T2. Chris Gotterup -7 (7)
• T5. Harry Hall -6 (9)
• T5. Rory McIlroy -6 (6)
• T5. Marco Penge -6 (5)

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland at the Renaissance Club

Chris Gotterup is a man on a mission.

The world No.158 floats a majestic approach to the seventh to set up his fifth birdie of the day.

Superb from the American as he rises to seven under.

Matti Schmid moves into the solo lead on eight under after a birdie on the par-five 10th.

Five birdies and two bogeys on the card today for the 27-year-old.

He carded a bogey-free 65 yesterday and is clearly enjoying himself on the links.

Image source, Getty Images

Nae bother for Rory McIlory, who taps in for a fourth birdie of the day - he's only played six holes.

Xander Schauffele also finds the bottom of the cup for birdie, while Viktor Hovland makes par.

Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying the warm conditions early on. He's now under par for the tournament after a fine birdie on the 14th.

That's two birdies today, both on par threes for the Englishman.

JJ Spaun and Connor Syme both settle for par.

There is almost certainly going to be another birdie coming up for Rory McIlroy after a magnificent approach shot from 142 yards.

It lands short of the hole, checks and rolls out to just a couple of feet.