Rory McIlroy hits front as Tyrrell Hatton hits stunning 62 at Scottish Open

Rory McIlroy moved serenely to the top of the leaderboard at the Scottish Open on a day where Tyrrell Hatton hit a spectacular 8-under 62 at The Renaissance Club.

McIlroy carded a 4-under 66 to reach 10-under par for 36 holes in North Berwick but it could and should have been so much better for the man looking to emulate his 2014 Open triumph at Royal Liverpool next week. 

Birdie no.5 of the day for @McIlroyRory as he moves to the top #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/DiAqdGFYBD

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 14, 2023

The World No.3 put on a ball-striking clinic as he split fairways and peppered pins for much of the day.

While McIlroy did make five birdies in the second round, he was very much left to rue a cold putter with at least five putts burning the edge from inside of 10 feet.

It was a round of what might have been for the four-time major champion. 

Nevertheless, McIlroy takes a narrow one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Scottish Open, a tournament he is looking to win for the first time in his career. 

After the round, McIlroy said: 

Related: Cam Smith fires warning to Rory McIlroy and co. ahead of Open title defence

.@TyrrellHatton's lowest @ScottishOpen round of his career



He currently shares second place. #GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/mH8T3mOdZj

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 14, 2023

England's Hatton hit a low-round-of-the-day 62 to surge up the leaderboard into a tie for second alongside South Korean duo Tom Kim (65) and Ben An (70). 

Hatton opened his round with birdies on 10 and 11 and despite handing back a shot at 12 then picked up shots at 14, 16 and 18 to go out in 31.

He then made another birdie at the 1st before adding three more on 3, 5 and 8 for an 8-under 62. 

Hatton is incredibly looking to win a fifth Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour.

Who wins the Scottish Open?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) July 14, 2023

This week's event is co-sanctioned between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. 

American duo Brian Harman and Sam Burns are a further stroke back on 8-under par after posting rounds of 65. 

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler progressed to 7-under par following an improved 65, a 36-hole total matched by Nicolai Hojgaard (63) and 51-year-old Padraig Harrington (66), the latter who is not ruling out an outside pick in Luke Donald's 2023 European Ryder Cup side.

The players will be teeing off between 7 and 9am in a two-tee start for the third round on Saturday morning as a result of inclement weather forecast in the afternoon. 

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