Ludvig Åberg surged ahead with a one-stroke lead at 12 under during the Scottish Open’s halfway point, setting a scoring record of 128 over the first two rounds. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, is also in the mix, just three shots behind. France’s Antoine Rozner follows closely at 11 under, while Matteo Manassero from Italy and Sungjae Im from South Korea are at 10 under.
McIlroy, after a second-round 66, is part of a large group that includes Collin Morikawa, the 2021 Open champion, all three shots off the lead. Overnight leader Justin Thomas slipped back to six under with a disappointing two-over round of 72. Spain’s Alejandro del Rey, a late addition to the lineup, is tied with McIlroy at nine under after starting his second round with six consecutive birdies.
Åberg, who turned professional just last year, is already making waves in the golf world. He won the final Ryder Cup qualifying event and was called a “generational talent” by Europe captain Luke Donald. Despite his recent success, Åberg remains humble, stating that he is focused on playing good golf and that his life off the golf course remains unchanged.
Home favorite Robert MacIntyre is also in the mix, just four shots behind the leader. MacIntyre expressed his excitement at the crowd’s support and the energy at the tournament. McIlroy, in his first appearance since the US Open, expressed his satisfaction with his position in the tournament and his overall performance.
As the tournament heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on Åberg, McIlroy, and the other contenders as they battle for the Scottish Open title. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports Golf and stay tuned for the upcoming 152nd Open at Royal Troon. With so much talent on display, it promises to be an exciting weekend of golf.