(Photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images)

Rory McIlroy shot 66 in the second round to keep pace with co-leaders Tom Kim of South Korea and PGA Tour rookie Jordan Smith at 9-under at the Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland.

Smith's eight birdies propelled him to the round of the day on Friday with a 63. McIlroy remained a co-leader after his first-round 65 on the strength of four birdies on the front nine on Friday.

'I thought I played well again,' McIlroy said. 'It would have been nice to be a couple better. But you know, it's obviously another good day and in good position.'

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is accustomed to separating from the pack, but not typically in this fashion. He finished even par through 36 holes and missed the cut for the first time since 2022.

Kim has matched McIlroy from the start of the tournament with equal rounds of 65-66.

'I stayed really patient out there, just tried to position myself,' Kim said. 'The wind got tricky a little bit as it started to pick up, and of obviously completely different wind than yesterday. So I think my experience over here the last few years has helped. I've played in both wind directions.'

Local favorite Robert MacIntyre is two shots off the lead as is defending champion Chris Gotterup. Gotterup was one shot better than McIlroy on Friday. His 65 was nearly a 64 until he wrapped up Friday's 18 with a bogey.

The wind shifted in the afternoon and pristine playing conditions were closer to the expected Scottish Open or Open Championship weather. For McIlroy, MacIntyre and Gotterup, the back nine played extremely long due to the wind. McIlroy went light instead of trying to hit the green on No. 14, a par-4, because of the unpredictable gusts.

He recognized the game had gone from target practice aiming for pins to grabbing hold with both hands and hoping for the best.

'Once we turned for home the wind got its strongest for the day and it was hard to hit it close,' McIlroy said. 'Felt like I did well to hang on. Maybe could have been one or two better but overall it was a good day.'

Matt Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee are tied one off the lead at 8-under.

Scheffler had made the cut in 78 consecutive events. He'll have a few unplanned days off this weekend before the Open Championship kicks off Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. And it's a safe assumption he'll be spending the extra time working on tee shots. Scheffler hit only 11 of 26 fairways at the Scottish Open.

'I got off to a tough start,' Scheffler said of Friday's round. 'And then on the back nine I didn't feel like I was hitting it close enough to give myself enough opportunities. I think that's what it really comes down to. I got off to a poor start and didn't really hit it close enough to give myself a bunch of looks, and that's how you shoot over par.'

Germany's Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Victor Perez of France and 24-year-old Australian Karl Vilips had rounds of 64 on Friday and are among the more than two dozen players in the field within three shots of the lead entering the weekend. None of the trio walked onto the opening tee Thursday at the Scottish Open with a world ranking above 175.

--Field Level Media