Rory McIlroy's quest for an Open Championship title remains in the balance after a second round at Birkdale that saw moments of brilliance from the tee overshadowed by persistent struggles on the greens. The world number two delivered one of the shots of the day on Friday, unleashing a majestic 403-yard drive on the par-four 9th hole that landed just 11 feet from the pin. However, the subsequent eagle putt was tentative, resulting in a birdie and encapsulating his day.
McIlroy's round of 67, three under par, moved him to one under for the tournament. While this ensured his participation over the weekend, he acknowledged leaving several shots out on the course. His driving was described as imperious, but his iron play was inconsistent, and numerous birdie chances from 10 to 20 feet went unconverted. This was particularly frustrating given that competitors Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns both carded record-equalling rounds of 62.
The Northern Irishman's putting has been a significant concern throughout the championship. On day one, he ranked 155th out of 156 players in strokes gained putting, losing three strokes to the field. Although there was a slight improvement on Friday, McIlroy admitted he is still grappling with the unique challenges presented by Birkdale's greens. He sought advice from putting guru Brad Faxon before his second round, but confessed to feeling less than 100% comfortable.
McIlroy highlighted the difficulty of the pin positions, stating that some were 'very tricky' and contributed to putts behaving unexpectedly. Despite his current position well down the leaderboard, he remains optimistic about his chances. He pointed out that many of the leaders are relatively inexperienced in the pressurised environment of a major championship on 'moving day', suggesting an opportunity for him to make a significant charge.
The focus for McIlroy will now be on 'moving day' on Saturday, where he aims to get off to a strong start and climb the leaderboard. A strong performance could put him firmly back into contention for the Claret Jug, but it will require a significant improvement in his putting to capitalise on his otherwise powerful ball-striking.