Genesis Scottish Open: Gotterup equals course record to top leaderboard in Scotland

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11 July 2025, DP World Tour: Chris Gotterup rocketed to the top of the leaderboard following a sensational 61 to lead by two shots at the Genesis Scottish Open.

The American, who won the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic on the PGA TOUR, was a relative unknown on these shores ahead of his arrival in East Lothian, but he grabbed the attention of spectators packing the fairways and grandstands at Renaissance Club with a flawless display on Friday.

The 25-year-old began the second round four shots off the quartet of overnight leaders, however, he got his birdie blitz underway with a 45-footer at the second before reaching the turn in a brilliant 29.

When he added three more birdies by the 14th hole, there were murmurs of the magical number 59 but he parred his way home to equal the course record and set the clubhouse target of 11 under.

Gotterup's closest rival proved to be Harry Hall at nine under, with English pair Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge and Swede Ludvig Åberg one shot further back in a share of third.

World Number Two Rory McIlroy briefly held the lead under sunny skies on Scotland's golf coast, ultimately reaching seven under after his round of 65, alongside American duo Keith Mitchell and Jake Knapp, Austrian Sepp Straka, Canada's Nick Taylor and German Matti Schmid.

Defending champion Robert MacIntyre birdied the 17th to get inside the cutline at one under par.

Tickets for Saturday at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open are now sold out. Record attendance is expected across the week at the event co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, with the capacity of 23,000 now reached for Saturday.

With a world-class field competing on Scotland's Golf Coast - and good weather forecast all weekend - Sunday tickets are also very limited, so fans are encouraged to buy now to witness the final round of the Rolex Series event.