An storms to lead in Scotland with first-round 61

Byeong Hun An carded 9 birdies and no bogeys for a first-round 61 to seize the outright lead by three strokes on the Scottish Open on Thursday.

An, a three-time runner up who has zero PGA Tour wins in 175 profession begins, started play on the tenth and, with 5 birdies, hit the flip with a 30. His ultimate putt for birdie on No. 9 left him at 9 beneath, three higher than Rory McIlroy and Thomas Detry on the Renaissance Membership in North Berwick, Scotland.

McIlroy held the lead for a part of the primary spherical Thursday, surging to the highest of the leaderboard with an eagle on the 630-yard, par-5 No. 3, his twelfth gap of the day.

An missed an ace on the 14th and tapped in throughout a stretch of 4 consecutive birdies on his opening 9. He grabbed the lead for good with a chip to inside three toes and the following birdie putt on No. 3 to get to 7 beneath.