Rory McIlroy salvaged his opening round with a superb finish as Sepp Straka defied his own “very low expectations” to share the Scottish Open lead.

Austria’s Straka, chasing his third PGA Tour win of the year, was joined on six under by American Jake Knapp, Frenchman Victor Perez and Nico Echavarria of Colombia at the Renaissance Club.

Home favourite Bob MacIntyre began his title defence with a two-under 68 to sit alongside McIlroy, one adrift of world number one Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg.

Scotland’s Calum Hill, who posted a blemish-free 65, and Englishman Marco Penge are one shot off the top.

Straka belied his poor Scottish Open record – missed cuts on both previous visits – as a razor-sharp short game helped him shine in sun-baked East Lothian.

Starting on the par-five 10th, he got the ball rolling with back-to-back birdies and was four under at the turn.

Three birdies in a row followed from the third to give the European Ryder Cup player the outright lead before he immediately wobbled with successive bogeys.

The response was magnificent, though, as he chipped in from left of the eighth green to complete a fine day’s work.

“The game’s been in really good shape coming into here,” Straka said. “The low expectations come from just not having performed at this course.

“My short game was really nice. I chipped it really well, made some putts and I hit the ball okay. Driver was a little bit squirrely, but short game saved me today.”