Rory McIlroy is happy to cut open for exuberant fans

Portrush, Northern Ireland – Rory McIlroy reached one of his destinations at Royal Portrush on Friday. Six years after McIlroy missed the cut at the Open Championship 2019 in his home country, he card 69 in the second round to give him below average rounds and, above all, a T-shirt time on the weekend.

“I didn't have this opportunity six years ago,” said Mcilroy. “To play in front of these crowds for two days in this atmosphere, I am very excited.”

The crowd was in full force again on Friday when they cheered, sang and tried to include McIlroy in the ranking.

“I have the feeling that I let myself down more than the fans,” said Mcilroy about 2019. “It was a hard pill. This time I just got better. I know what to do to get the best out of me in such an environment.”

The five-time major winner tried his best to sign the thousands after him on Friday, but his two birdies on the first nine were deleted two sloppy bogies on the third and fifth holes. McIlroy's round then stayed with six pars in a row before he received one last indictment: one birdie on the Par-5 12 and another on the 14th par-4 to reach 3 under.

“I have the feeling that my game is definitely good enough to take a run,” said Mcilroy. “In the first two days I was in small parts here and there a little close to my best. I have to have everything under control and let everything shoot over the weekend to take a run.”

Although Mcilroy only reached two fairways on Thursday, he was able to shoot under par. On Friday, his t -shots found the short grass seven times, a 50% rate that enabled him to deal with birdies with cleaners.

So far, he has won most of his strokes about his approach (+3.14) and Puting (+2.43) this week.

“I don't know if you can ever flow. This golf [course] is very demanding. It's pretty visually intimidating from the tee, “said Mcilroy. It is one of these places where you know the holes you know for a par. Everything is getting pretty.”

In 2019 McIlroy didn't have to play the last two rounds, and Shane Lowry pulled away from the field on Saturday with a 63. The crowd gathered around the Irish when he rolled towards his first big victory. This time the galleries at Portrush also have the chance to gather McIlroy this weekend.

“It is incredible to play in front of these fans,” said Mcilroy. “It was 20 years ago when I played here in the north of Ireland, and never in my wildest dreams I thought I would come back behind me as a Grand Slam champion with the support of a nation who tried to win an open championship. I count myself very gratefully and very happy that I am in this position and am excited about the weekend.”