Mcilroy Feels He Can Still 'make A Run' At Open

World number 2 Rory McIlroy said he "could beryllium a mates person to nan lead" astatine nan halfway shape of nan 153rd Open Championship astatine Royal Portrush but feels he is successful a "decent" position heading into nan weekend.

The five-time awesome victor from Northern Ireland changeable a second-round 69 connected Friday, 1 changeable amended than he managed connected Thursday.

Having grounded to make nan trim erstwhile nan title was past staged astatine Portrush successful 2019, nan 36-year-old had nary specified concerns this clip astir and walked disconnected nan 18th greenish 5 shots down clubhouse leader Brian Harman.

"Another coagulated day," McIlroy said. "Improved a small spot connected yesterday, deed it successful play a small spot much disconnected nan tee which was nice.

"It was a bully day. I consciousness for illustration I possibly could beryllium a mates person to nan lead, but wide successful a decent position heading into nan weekend.

"I didn't person this opportunity six years ago, truthful to play an other 2 days successful this ambiance successful beforehand of these crowds, I'm very excited for that and I consciousness for illustration my game's decidedly bully capable to make a run."

McIlroy added that he felt he fto himself down by missing nan trim present six years agone but felt "close" to his champion this clip astir contempt nan weight of expectation.

"It was a difficult pill to swallow, but astatine nan aforesaid time, I near myself excessively overmuch to do," he said of his opening-round 79 successful 2019 erstwhile he yet missed nan trim by a shot.

"I've been somewhat adjacent to my champion complete nan first 2 days successful small bits present and there. I'm going to request to person it each nether power and person it benignant of each firing complete nan play to make a run."

On different time erstwhile he was roared connected by a vociferous location crowd, McIlroy began his information pinch a birdie. A par connected nan 2nd contempt taking a driblet aft an unplayable thrust felt for illustration a nett summation too.

A dropped changeable connected nan par-three 3rd was negated by a birdie astatine nan fourth, but that was fixed consecutive backmost astatine nan 5th connected a spread wherever he had chipped from already connected nan greenish to time off himself 10 feet for par.

Seven consecutive pars past gave nan emotion of a information that grounded to ignite and moreover erstwhile that streak was ended pinch a birdie astatine nan 14th, it came pinch nan lingering tinge of disappointment from an eagle effort that came up short.

McIlroy, however, said Royal Portrush was not a people wherever you could expect to spell peculiarly low.

"This play is very demanding," he added.

"It's 1 of these places wherever you cognize nan holes you person to make par, you cognize nan holes you person to make birdie, and everyone benignant of has to play nan play people nan aforesaid way. Everything becomes beautiful bunched.

"If you person 1 of those retired of nan bluish days, you tin get it going, but for nan astir part, you're conscionable trying to prime disconnected your birdies connected nan easy holes and honestly for illustration clasp connected pinch immoderate of these really reliable par fours."