McIlroy and Cantlay are part of a five-way tie for the lead in the Scottish Open

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Rory McIlroy began getting into the mood for the final major of the year by taking advantage of the par 5s at The Renaissance Club for a 5-under 65, giving him a five-way share of the lead Thursday in the Genesis Scottish Open.

Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable. He also was at 65, along with Tom Kim, Bernd Wiesberger and Rasmus Hojgaard.

Hojgaard was the only player of the leading five to play in the afternoon, when the wind began to calm. He was at 6 under with four holes to play but found a bunker off the 16th, went into the rough and took double bogey.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world searching for his first win since January, made three straight birdies around the turn and was slowed by a long three-putt bogey on the 11th, followed by a drive into a bunker that kept him from reaching the green at the par-5 12th. Scheffler failed to birdie any of the three par 5s in his round of 68.

“Wish I could have gotten a few more shots out of it,” Scheffler said. “I like to keep a clean card, so two bogeys hurt. Maybe could have played the par 5s a little bit better. But overall, nothing crazy. Just a decent day.”

McIlroy felt about the same. He was tied for the 18-hole lead for the first time since the Masters, but this didn't feel like anything special except for seizing on the easiest scoring chances.

McIlroy holed an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-5 first hole — he started his round on No. 10 — to go along with a pair of birdies on the other two par 5s at The Renaissance Club. That made his round and his scorecard feel a little better.

He has been away the last two weeks since a pedestrian performance in the U.S. Open, though the brand of golf doesn't feel entirely different. Shinnecock Hills might be as close to links golf as any course in America. The Renaissance Club has the look of links, though it is not links turf.

The real test is Royal Birkdale next week for the British Open.

“I felt like I drove the ball particularly well, and I started to see that at Shinnecock, as well,” McIlroy said. “A continuation of putting the ball in play, and then once I do that, I feel like I can attack courses and I can set up scoring opportunities. I did that today.”

Cantlay hasn't won in nearly four years and slipped to No. 37 in the world after missing the cut in the U.S. Open, his lowest ranking in more than eight years. He's had three top 10s and four other finishes in the top 20. It hasn't been horrible, but he has lacked a spark and might have found one.

He went to a slightly heavier putter to account for the slower greens this week and next, and it paid off in birdies and pars. Most impressive was his finish. He found a pot bunker off the tee on the par-5 seventh and could only get that back to the fairway, leaving him 261 yards for his third shot. He wound up getting up-and-down and saving par with a 13-foot putt.

He saved par with a 5-foot putt on the eighth and then got up-and-down from just inside 100 feet off the ninth green to keep a clean card.

“I’ve been putting in some hard work with my team, and have got some important golf the rest of the year,” Cantlay said.

The Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the European tour and PGA Tour, the ideal place to be for those wanting to get acclimated for the British Open, whether it's the seaside air, the time zone or a slightly slower set of greens.

It's also a last chance for the likes of Michael Thorbjornsen, among those at 67. The leading three players not already eligible get a spot at Royal Birkdale. Thorbjornsen is fourth alternate.

Brooks Koepka, who appears to be past that mysterious nerve issue in his left hand that caused him to pull out of the Canadian Open when he was off to a good start, felt that putting is all that has slowed him this year. That much was evident when he missed four putts from 7 feet or under, one of them from 20 inches. He also rolled in three birdie putts from outside 20 feet and was among seven players at 66.

Nearly half of the 156-man field broke par.

“It could have been a very, very good round. But then again, I’m happy with the way I battled back,” Koepka said. “That was solid. So hopefully take that into tomorrow.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, plays from a bunker on the 11th hole during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open 2026 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, plays on the 14th fairway during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open 2026 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP)

Brooks Koepka, of the United States, walks to the ninth green during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open 2026 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP)

Patrick Cantlay, of the United States, plays on the ninth green during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open 2026 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, plays from a bunker on the ninth fairway during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open 2026 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP)

Kawhi Leonard's trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold pending the outcome of the NBA's investigation into whether the Los Angeles Clippers circumvented salary cap rules, the teams announced Thursday.

It does not necessarily mean that the trade is off. The Raptors said they still want Leonard, and the Clippers, in a statement sent to multiple outlets including The Associated Press, again insisted that they are not guilty of any wrongdoing related to an endorsement contract between Leonard and a now-bankrupt California-based digital bank that touted itself as environmentally friendly.

But the probe, as detailed by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, could lead to penalties that include a substantial fine, the loss of draft capital — and, potentially, even the voiding of a player contract — if the league finds there was a deliberate circumvention of cap rules.

“The NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors said. “In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”

There is no timetable for the conclusion of the NBA's probe, which is being performed by outside counsel — Wachtell Lipton, a New York-based firm. Commissioner Adam Silver said in recent weeks that he'd like to see a conclusion.

“My instruction to them is we can’t be investigating forever. At some point you have to wrap it up,” Silver said last month at the NBA Finals. “But at the same time, the most important thing is that we get it right."

Through a spokesman, the NBA said Thursday that it doesn't “have a specific timeline for the conclusion of the investigation but expect the firm to finalize its work in the coming weeks”

The NBA opened an investigation back in September into whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy in 2025 — broke league rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre. Last month, Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.

“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration,” the Clippers said Thursday in a statement. "We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

“We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues. We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”

For its part, Toronto reaffirmed that it still wants to acquire Leonard.

“The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the Raptors said.

The Raptors and Clippers struck a deal on June 30 on a trade that would send Leonard back to the city that helped win the 2019 NBA championship.

The Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and pick swaps to the Clippers for Leonard — who spent one season in Toronto, and that was the year the Raptors won their lone title.

He turned 35 earlier this month but is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.

Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA champion (also winning in 2014 with San Antonio) and is generally considered one of the game’s top defensive players. He has said there was no wrongdoing.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

FILE - LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, center, shoots as Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis defends during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill,File)

Kyle Lowry, right, speaks with Kawhi Leonard after a press conference in which Lowry signed a one-day contract to retire as a Toronto Raptor, in Toronto, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)