Jordan Smith, a PGA Tour rookie, holds the 36-hole lead alongside other competitors. This marks his second co-lead on Tour. He previously held this distinction at the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge, finishing tied-13th. His career-best Tour finish across 34 starts is solo-third at the 2026 Valspar Championship.

Smith seeks to become the third rookie winner on Tour this season. Alex Fitzpatrick won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Kristoffer Reitan won the Truist Championship. Smith also pursues becoming the sixth first-time winner on Tour this season and the first since Bud Cauley's RBC Canadian Open victory.

The Genesis Scottish Open marks Smith's fifth start at this event. He finished tied-24th in 2022 and tied-12th in 2023. He missed the cut in 2024 and finished tied-22nd in 2025. Smith enters the week at No. 73 in FedExCup standings with five top-25 finishes in 16 starts this season.

Smith earned his PGA Tour card by finishing inside the top 10 of the 2025 DP World Tour Eligibility Ranking. He owns two DP World Tour victories: the 2017 Porsche European Open and the 2022 Portugal Masters.

Tom Kim holds his third career 36-hole lead or co-lead on the PGA Tour. He won the 2022 Wyndham Championship after holding that position. He finished second at the 2024 Travelers Championship from a 36-hole lead.

Kim ranks among an exclusive group at the Genesis Scottish Open. Only two players finished inside the top 25 there since 2022. Kim and Wyndham Clark are those two players.

Kim enters this week ranked No. 58 in the FedExCup standings. He has recorded two top-10 finishes across 16 starts this season. He tied for sixth at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic. He finished third at the U.S. Open.

Kim has won three times on the PGA Tour. He captured the 2022 Wyndham Championship. He won the 2022 Shriners Children's Open. He won the 2023 Shriners Children's Open.

Rory McIlroy has played all 14 rounds of his career at this event in the 60s. This represents the highest percentage of any player at this event since 2022. The 2023 Genesis Scottish Open winner has finished inside the top five the last three starts. He won in 2023, finished T4 in 2024, and stands at T2 in 2025.

McIlroy holds his 13th career 36-hole lead or co-lead on TOUR. This marks his second such position this season, following his Masters Tournament victory. To date, he converts these leads at a 7-for-12 rate. World No. 2, McIlroy makes his 10th start on TOUR this season. He has recorded one win at the Masters Tournament and one runner-up at The Genesis Invitational.

A victory would secure McIlroy's 31st PGA TOUR title. With that win, he would tie Jimmy Demaret for 15th all-time. McIlroy would become the first player to win the Masters Tournament and Genesis Scottish Open in the same season.

The 30-time PGA TOUR winner has earned five PGA TOUR wins internationally. This represents the most of any player since 2003. McIlroy seeks his fifth consecutive season with multiple PGA TOUR titles.