Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Jordan Smith Share the Scottish Open Lead While Scottie Scheffler Heads Early to Royal Birkdale

Image: Birdie Report

The Genesis Scottish Open went from “nice little pre-Open board” to something way more interesting in about five hours.

According to Associated Press reporting published Friday, July 10, 2026, Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Jordan Smith all reached 9-under 131 through 36 holes at The Renaissance Club, while Scottie Scheffler shot 72, finished at even-par 140, and missed the cut by two shots. That snapped Scheffler’s run of 78 consecutive made cuts, which AP said was the longest streak on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods reached 142.

That is a real tournament story and a real major-week story at the same time.

This piece is based on Associated Press reporting published July 10, 2026 and The Open’s official qualification pages checked on July 11, 2026. No pretending I was on a balcony at The Renaissance Club logging wind direction and wedge spin with a notebook and a Scottish accent.

If you want the setup first, start with our Round 1 Scottish Open piece, the routing-change story, and our opinion on why this is still the only Open tune-up that feels real.

McIlroy Is Exactly Where He Wanted To Be

The useful part of McIlroy’s Friday is not just the number.

AP said he shot 66 in windy conditions, stayed tied for the lead, and told reporters he felt he was “in good position” even if he thought he could have gotten a little more out of the day. The report also noted he has found a new wedge to help with firm turf at The Renaissance Club and next week’s test at Royal Birkdale.

That matters because this week is not random for him.

We already covered McIlroy’s earlier Birkdale scouting trip, and Friday made that whole prep arc look less like golfer theater and more like an actual plan.

Tom Kim and Jordan Smith Make This Board Better

This would be a perfectly fine story if it were just McIlroy and a bunch of expected names.

It is better than that.

AP said Jordan Smith posted the round of the tournament with a 63, while Tom Kim added a 66, highlighted by a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh and two closing birdies over his last five holes. Kim also told AP he felt like his game had been building quietly while he worked outside the spotlight.

That tracks.

Kim tying for third at the U.S. Open was already a sign that something was waking back up. Smith being right there gives the weekend a little more edge because now the leaderboard is not just star power and brand names. It has actual volatility.

Scheffler Leaving Early Changes the Feel of the Week

This is obviously the biggest shock.

AP reported that Scheffler missed key putts late, including a 6-footer for par that left him outside the cut line, and then started making plans to head south early for Royal Birkdale. In the separate AP cut-streak story, Scheffler said this trip to Birkdale would now be “a little different” than planned.

That is the kind of quote that lands because it sounds normal and a little annoyed, which is exactly what it should sound like.

Scheffler is still the defending Open champion and still the best player in the world. But him disappearing before the weekend removes the easy safety blanket from this tournament and sharpens the read on everyone still around.

The Open Spots Still Matter in the Middle

This is the reason the week does not flatten into a Rory-only update.

The Open’s official qualifying tracker, checked July 11, says the Scottish Open is awarding three places at Royal Birkdale to the leading three players who make the cut and are not already exempt. The same official qualification page also confirms a new Last-Chance Qualifier will be played on Monday, July 13, 2026 for one final spot.

So even with the top of the board getting most of the oxygen, the middle still has teeth.

That has been the best part of this whole week from the start.

Weekend Read

At halfway, the Scottish Open has everything it should want:

• McIlroy in a strong spot one week before the final men’s major
• Tom Kim looking more serious by the week
• Jordan Smith forcing the leaderboard to feel less scripted
• and Scheffler’s early exit making the weekend a little less predictable

That is a much stronger shape than a fake tune-up with one obvious hero and no consequences underneath.

Bottom Line

According to AP’s July 10 reporting, Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Jordan Smith share the 36-hole lead at 9-under at the Genesis Scottish Open, while Scottie Scheffler missed the cut for the first time since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

With three Royal Birkdale spots still on the line for non-exempt players, the weekend now looks less like warm-up golf and more like the kind of proper sorting week this event is supposed to be.