Rory McIlroy reveals why he has 'renewed enthusiasm' as he recovers from slow start at Scottish Open while clock ticks down to Portrush

Rory McIlroy declared he has regained his motivation after recovering from a slow start to sit four off the lead at the Scottish Open. Other aspects of his game are still in need of a tweak.

With the clock ticking towards The Open at Portrush next week, there is some urgency around the world No 2's performances here, but at least a tricky day in the breezes of North Berwick was salvaged by a birdie rush in the closing three holes.

Until then, there had been a recurrence of his post-Masters struggles and through 14 holes he was one over par and heading south fast. The nadir came with two shots to escape a fairway bunker at 15, but then his putter suddenly burned hot.

First, McIlroy saved bogey on the 15th with a 20-footer, before a tap-in on 16 preceded two more long-rangers on the 17th and 18th holes. Signing for a two-under-par 68, McIlroy will start the second round within reach of the leading cluster of Sepp Straka, Nico Echavarria, Jake Knapp and Victor Perez.

Scottie Scheffler, whose links credentials are the single unproven entity in his game, is three under, one ahead of defending champion Bob MacIntyre.

For McIlroy, fresh from a fortnight off at his new property in Wentworth, the most significant development is that his blood appears to be pumping again after his post-Augusta dip.

He said: 'I'm ready to play. I think a change of scenery has been nice. It's been nice to get back over here (in the past two weeks). That sort of renewed my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the season.'

He added: 'It was a great finish today. I felt like the round was a bit stop start with a little bit of rust in there after taking a couple of weeks off, but I found my rhythm and started hitting better shots on the way in.

'It was a good opening round. It's the sort of golf course and the sort of conditions where I feel like the field is going to be pretty bunched. So to only be four behind after the first day, and feeling like I've still got my best stuff ahead of me, is good.'