The first round of the Genesis Scottish Open saw some amazing shots from PGA TOUR players, and fans got a taste of it all, from low scores to memorable hole-outs.
Links-style golf courses like this week’s course, Renaissance Club, are perfect for moments like these, plus when the conditions are ideal, like they were on Thursday, the scores and excitement are only going to be higher.
Those who took to the course had multiple bogey-free rounds and at least 15 players posted scores of 65 or better.
So what were the highlights of the day? Check out the top five shots from Round 1.
5. Sahith Teegala finishes with an eagle
First up is a great hole-out from Sahith Teegala. Early in the round, on the par-4 fifth hole, with 42 yards to go, Teegala hit his second shot and hit a perfect shot.
But it was his reaction that was the best part: The 26-year-old was so fired up, it helped him bounce back after dropping a shot on the fourth hole.
Teegala finished the first round with a 4-under 66.
4. Justin Thomas’ seventh birdie
First-round leader Justin Thomas played a bogey-free round, one of the few players to achieve that feat. He shot an eight-under 62, with the most memorable shot of the round coming on the par-three 12th hole.
Thomas drilled a 42-foot putt for his seventh birdie of the day, and his flat stick was in top form Thursday, playing his best golf since winning the 2022 PGA Championship.
3. Ludvig Auberg’s wild approach shot
Ludvig Ørberg is in contention for the win after the first day of the Scottish Open and might have stayed in the lead had it not been for this terrible blunder: On the eighth hole, the young Swede hit a great approach shot from 148 yards, but with some unlucky luck, it hit Collin Morikawa’s ball and bounced off the green.
Though he had to make do with a bogey on the hole, the shot was too good not to share, and Oberg finished with a 6-under 64, two strokes behind the leader.
2. Nick Taylor’s one-hop and dunk hole-out shot
Another incredible hole-out was by Nick Taylor. This one-hop dunk was amazing. He had a ton of power going into the hole, but he landed with just enough speed to drop to the bottom of the cup.
The shocked look on Taylor’s face was priceless to watch, but so was the look on Justin Rose’s face sitting in the front row, and it’s those reactions that make these shots so much more valuable.
1. Rory McIlroy’s chip-in eagle
The best shot of the day belonged to Rory McIlroy, who shot a five-under 65 in his first round since his heartbreaking defeat at the U.S. Open, which was also the lowest score by a defending champion in a first round at the Scottish Open. Justin Ray.
Starting from the 10th tee, the first nine holes were eventful, but he got the momentum going with an eagle on the par-5 third hole. He has perfect touch and it was a joy to watch him hit shots like that.
Which was your favorite shot from round one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Her Instagram account is @golf_girl_sl.
