Rory McIlroy makes enough putts to lead Scottish Open by 1 over Tom Kim

Rory McIlroy successfully sank enough birdie putts, scoring 3-under 67 amidst escalating windy conditions on Saturday, to maintain his one-stroke advantage over Tom Kim in the Genesis Scottish Open.

Despite the lead, McIlroy voiced his regret at not making more putts, echoing a sentiment commonly expressed by most golfers. This came after a series of misses, including an eagle attempt from just beyond 3 feet and a birdie putt from 5 feet while he aimed to solidify his lead at The Renaissance Club.

“Despite leaving a few out there, I’m in an excellent position,” McIlroy remarked. “I can’t really complain when I’m leading the tournament on the eve of the final day. I’m certainly pleased with it.”

Heading into the final day, McIlroy stood at 13-under 197, hoping to secure his first professional win in Scotland. Despite having three second-place finishes in the Dunhill Links and four top-five placements in the British Opens held in Scotland, he’s never made it into the top 10 as a professional.

Tom Kim, on the other hand, managed to keep up with a score of 67, largely thanks to his successful putts. Kim confessed that his performance wasn’t as good as the previous day, with several out-of-position plays. However, he was glad to complete a bogey-free round.

The tension peaked at the par-4 18th hole when Kim’s shot missed the fairway, landing in a tricky lie. But he walked away with a par and a victorious fist pump after a successful putt from about 10 feet.

Kim said, “The final putt was like icing on the cake because I struggled to maximize the round. Exiting with a par felt great, given the momentum it brings. It puts me in a favorable position for tomorrow.”

Weather conditions are expected to play a crucial role, with forecasts predicting heavy rain and wind speeds up to 30 mph. This change could see more competitors challenging for the lead.

Among potential contenders, Tommy Fleetwood registered an impressive 63, landing him at 11-under 199 and tied with Brian Harman. Meanwhile, the world’s No.1, Scottie Scheffler, managed to recover late in the game with birdies on three of the last four holes.

Others in contention include Shane Lowry, J.T. Poston, Eric Cole, and Byeong Hun An, with the latter two having the best chance to earn the three spots available for the British Open.

Padraig Harrington and Sam Burns are six shots behind. Harrington scored 70 this weekend, falling off the pace, while Burns had an unfortunate triple-bogey 8.

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• The Renaissance Club
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• Eric Cole Career Stats
• Byeong Hun An Career Stats
• Sam Burns Career Stats
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