Sepp Straka had eight birdies in his round of 64, also joined by Nico Echavarria and Victor Perez atop the leaderboard alongside Knapp. Four other players were one shot behind, while Scottie Scheffler had to settle for a 67 and was three back.

Rory McIlroy salvages his opening round with a superb finish as Sepp Straka defies his own "very low expectations" to share the Scottish Open lead.

Sepp Straka had eight birdies in his round of 64, also joined by Nico Echavarria and Victor Perez atop the leaderboard alongside Knapp.

This will be the seventh year the Renaissance has staged the Genesis Scottish Open. Familiarity breeds contentment. The strength of field is proof.

The Genesis Scottish Open gets under way Thursday at The Renaissance Club. Here are the tee times and groupings for the opening round in North Berwick, Scotland ( click here for Round 2 tee times).

Jake Knapp made his professional links debut this week in Scotland, and he's off to a terrific start at The Renaissance Club.

The Scottish Open will once again be held at the Renaissance Club, a course that has plenty of links-style holes but also a few that are more parkland style. The main characteristic of this course is its pot bunkers. Golfers will have to, at all costs, avoid these small but deep pot bunkers, which effectively end up being a hazard.

As the Scottish Open unfolds at Renaissance, Cabot Highlands has unveiled Tom Doak's latest Gem: Old Petty, a beautiful Highlands course.