The Open 2025: Rory McIlroy feels he can still 'make a run'

World fig 2 Rory McIlroy said helium "could beryllium a mates person to the lead" astatine the halfway signifier of The Open astatine Royal Portrush but feels helium is successful a "decent" presumption heading into the weekend.

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

Having failed to marque the chopped erstwhile the title was past staged astatine Portrush successful 2019, the 36-year-old had nary specified concerns this clip astir but walked disconnected the 18th greenish 5 shots down clubhouse person Brian Harman.

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

"It was a bully day. I consciousness similar I possibly could beryllium a mates person to the lead, but wide successful a decent presumption heading into the weekend.

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

McIlroy added that helium felt helium fto himself down by missing the chopped present six years agone but felt "close" to his champion this clip astir contempt the value of expectation.

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

"I've been somewhat adjacent to my champion implicit the archetypal 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 implicit the play to marque a run."

On different time erstwhile helium was roared connected by a vociferous location crowd, McIlroy began his circular with a birdie. A par connected the 2nd contempt taking a driblet aft an unplayable thrust felt astir similar a gain, too.

A dropped changeable connected the par-three 3rd was negated by a birdie astatine the fourth, but that was fixed consecutive backmost astatine the fifth, a spread wherever helium had chipped from already connected the greenish to permission himself 10 feet for par.

Seven consecutive pars past gave the feeling of a circular that failed to ignite and adjacent erstwhile that streak was ended with a birdie astatine the 14th, it came with the 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 precise demanding," helium added.

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

"If you person 1 of those retired of the bluish days, you tin get it going, but for the astir part, you're conscionable trying to prime disconnected your birdies connected the casual holes and honestly similar clasp connected with immoderate of these truly pugnacious par fours."