Midway through the Scottish Open, Ludvig Åberg had a one-shot lead at 12 under, with defending champion Rory McIlroy just three shots behind.
Åberg shot back-to-back rounds of 64, setting the 24-year-old's career-best 36-hole score (128) and setting a scoring record in two rounds of par-70 competition at The Renaissance Club.
Antoine Rozner of France, who has yet to lose a stroke this week, was second at 11 under, while Italy's Matteo Manassero and South Korea's Sungjae Im were third at 10 under with rounds of 63 and 67, respectively.
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Next up was McIlroy, who was paired with 2021 Open champion Collin Morikawa three shots off the lead after a second-round 66, while overnight leader Justin Thomas dropped to six under after a disappointing pair of 72s.
Overnight leader Justin Thomas finished six shots back at six under with a two-over 72
Spain's Alejandro del Rey, who was called into the field only after Sebastian Soderberg withdrew, made six straight birdies in the second round to shoot 62 and tie McIlroy at 9 under.
Oberg only turned professional last June, but he won the Ryder Cup qualifier in Switzerland in early September and was awarded a wild card by European captain Luke Donald, and was hailed as a “generational talent.”
He teamed up with Viktor Hovland to help Europe reclaim the trophy in Rome with a record-breaking 9-7 win over world number one Scottie Scheffler and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, and won his first PGA Tour title two months later.
Aberg then made his major debut at the Masters in April, finishing runner-up to Scheffler, and held the lead at last month's U.S. Open, but he was determined not to let success go to his head.
“I wouldn't describe myself as a superstar. All I do is play good golf,” he said after his second round.
“Whether the last 12 months has changed my life on the golf course or not, it hasn't really changed my life off the golf course. I'm still me, I'm still me, my personality is still the same, and that's not going to change in the future.”
Home favourite Robert MacIntyre was beaten by a brilliant birdie from McIrroy 12 months ago but MacIntyre shot a perfect 65 (opening 67) this year to finish four shots off the lead at eight under.
The left-hander won a deafening roar as he made birdie on the par-3 sixth hole at the Stadium, with McIntyre admitting: “I tried to keep my balance as much as possible but it’s hard sometimes.
“The crowd went crazy, cheering me all the way, and when I putted the ball in the hole, I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but I also got goose bumps when the crowd erupted in cheers.”
Defending champion Rory McIlroy returns to compete at the Scottish Open, his first appearance since the U.S. Open
McIlroy, making his first appearance since a disastrous finish at the U.S. Open last month, said: “I stand here and feel like I should be about the same as Ludwig, if not better over the last few days, but I’m still in a good position.
“It was another weekend of golf tournaments for me and it’s great to get this result after working so hard over the last three weeks.”
Watch the third round of the Genesis Scottish Open live on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm on Saturday, followed by the 152nd Open at Royal Troon from July 18 to 21. Watch the PGA Tour, Majors and more with NOW.
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