Scottish Open: Ludvig Aberg leads at halfway as Rory McIlroy stays in contention

McIlroy came out firing with three early birdies – the pick of them when he drove the green on the 300-yard fifth – but by his own reckoning was “a little scrappy from there on in”.

He made birdies at the 10th and 13th, with his sole dropped shot coming on 11 after needing a penalty drop when an errant drive landed next to a tree.

And there were echoes of the Northern Irishman’s recent US Open misery as he missed a birdie chance from inside four feet on the 16th.

“I’m probably standing here feeling like I should be sort of around Ludvig’s score if not a little bit better after the last couple days, but I’m still in good position,” McIlroy said.

“Hopefully I can put it all together over the weekend and not leave those shots out there.”

Home favourite MacIntyre, playing alongside McIlroy in a group that drew large crowds, drained a 19-footer on the par-three sixth for one of five birdies in his 65.

“Some of the noise is absolutely unbelievable, like when I made that two on six,” said MacIntyre.

“It’s what we play golf for – it gives you the biggest smile and goosebumps. It’s why this tournament means so much.”

Del Rey, a late replacement for Sebastian Soderberg, had fans on ’59 watch’ when he blazed to six under through six and added another birdie on 10.

A bogey two holes later stalled his charge but he immediately retrieved a stroke and added another birdie on 16 to post 62.

“After six holes I was six under but still didn’t feel like I was hitting the ball as good as I wanted,” said the world number 311.

“I was hitting decent shots at the right moment and making putts, but I still struggled a little bit off the tee all day.”

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick was a stroke above the projected cut line of three under after his 69, but Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose are among those who will not be around for the weekend.

Scotland’s Grant Forrest ensured he made the cut after a dramatic finish on the 18th, with his approach from more than 190 yards lipping out before he knocked in the birdie to sign for a 69 and sit four under.