Jon Rahm carded a second-day 65 and will enter the weekend at the Scottish Open with a share of the lead on 11-under par.

The world No. 1 started his second day at The Renaissance Club two back of overnight leader Jack Senior but after a scorecard featuring eight birdies and two bogeys, the Spaniard sat atop the leaderboard alongside Thomas Detry and overnight leader Jack Senior.

“I think we were fortunate the first seven, eight holes, really no wind at all,” said Rahm. “So when you play an a links golf course with no wind, you can make some birdies.

“But you’re always going to struggle through a couple holes and I tried to minimise as much as possible.

“I would say through the whole tournament yesterday and today, maybe short game needs to be a little bit better, when I miss a green, give myself better chances for par.

“You know, hopefully clean up a couple mistakes.”

Senior, who shot 4-under 67, said, “It’s just great to be back playing well. Great to be back holing some putts, and it’s great to be back near the top of the leaderboard.”

Detry (65) added, “Like I said, I really golf the golf course. I’ve got great vibes coming into this week. I think I shot the lowest round last Sunday, like in October last year, joint lowest-round with Aaron Rai who obviously won.

“So yeah, many good vibes out here. Got off to a great start, like I said in my previous interview, got off to a about start this morning, same yesterday, as well. It’s all very nice and hopefully I can keep it going.”

South African George Coetzee was one back on 10-under par after a second-round 66. He was tied with Englishmen Lee Westwood (67) and Matt Fitzpatrick (66).

Another Englishman in Ian Poulter (68) and world No. 3 Justin Thomas (69) were two further back on 8 under, as were Scotsman David Law (67) and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros (68).

Thomas was pleased with his performance, and believes he’ll be able to make a run at the lead this weekend.

“Far from my best stuff but really managed my game well but I played solid,” said Thomas. “Haven’t played bad by any means but haven’t gotten any runs going.

“This is a course where you can do things like Jon, and I can play a five or six-hole stretch four, five, six-under, and I haven’t done that yet. But I feel like I’m close.

“Just need to sharpen things up and get the ball started better on line with my irons and I feel like it can happen.

“I didn’t quite get much out of it today but I just got to start hitting my irons and approach shots closer to the hole.”

Scottie Scheffler shot a low-round 63 to move into the chasing pack at 7 under par, alongside Irishman Padraig Harrington (68), Englishman Richard Bland (66), Swede Marcus Kinhult (68), and Welshman Oliver Farr (68).

Rory McIlroy, who played in the featured threesome with Rahm and Thomas, posted a 71 to remain 1-under par. The Northern Irishman missed the cut.

2021 Scottish Open

Round-2 Leaderboard: Top-10

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Jon Rahm -11 (-6)
1. Thomas Detry -11 (-6)
1. Jack Senior -11 (-4)
4. George Coetzee -10 (-5)
4. Matt Fitzpatrick -10 (-5)
4. Lee Westwood -10 (-4)
7. David Law -8 (-4)
7. Ian Poulter -8 (-3)
7. Alvaro Quiros -8 (-3)
7. Justin Thomas -8 (-2)

Notables

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
11. Scottie Scheffler -7 (-8)
11. Richard Bland -7 (-5)
11. Padraig Harrington -7 (-3)
16. Tyrrell Hatton -6 (-4)
16. Tommy Fleetwood -6 (-1)
16. Ryan Palmer -6 (-1)
23. Guido Migliozzi -5 (-5)
23. Collin Morikawa -5 (-4)
23. Robert MacIntyre -5 (-3)
23. Victor Perez -5 (-3)
23. Xander Schauffele -5 (-1)
53. Aaron Rai -3 (-3)
53. Bernd Wiesberger -3 (-3)
53. Will Zalatoris -3 (-1)
62. Thorbjorn Olesen -2 (-5)
62. Francesco Molinari -2 (-4)
62. Sam Burns -2 (-3)
62. Billy Horschel -2 (-1)
62. Matt Wallace -2 (-1)
62. Branden Grace -2 (E)
62. Thomas Pieters -2 (+1)

Missed Cut

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
88. Corey Conners -1 (-6)
88. Andy Sullivan -1 (-1)
88. Rory McIlroy -1 (E)
88. Eddie Pepperell -1 (E)
88. Nicolas Colsaerts -1 (+1)
88. Garrick Higgo -1 (+2)
102. Martin Kaymer E (-2)
102. John Catlin E (+1)
115. Henrik Stenson +1 (E)
121. Jimmy Walker +2 (+2)
129. Graeme McDowell +3 (+1)
144. Thomas Bjorn +6 (+7)

Material from the European Tour Communications was used to compile this report.