McIlroy: I have the game to win The Open | Smith to stay 'boring'

Rory McIlroy feels he is in a great position to end his long major drought after staying within three strokes of halfway leader Cameron Smith at The 150th Open.

McIlroy, who missed his Open title defence through injury when it was last held at St Andrews' historic Old Course in 2015, followed an opening-round 66 with a four-under 68 on Friday to head into the weekend tied-third alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Viktor Hovland.

The Northern Irishman, without a major victory since 2014, followed a front-nine 35 by making three consecutive birdies from the 10th and then failing to make another at the par-five 14th despite reaching the green in two.

McIlroy responded to a three-putt bogey at the 15th by birdieing his penultimate hole, although he failed to find another at the last to remain on 10 under and three behind Smith.

"I'm picking holes in everything and walking off thinking I could have been a couple better, but I'm in a great position going into the weekend," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"Cam Smith has been playing well this year and so has Cameron Young. Both phenomenal players; a great leaderboard with DJ (Dustin Johnson) and Viktor Hovland there. It's going to be a great weekend and it is nice to be in the mix."

McIlroy has finished no worse than eighth in the first three majors of the year and is already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, most recently at the RBC Canadian Open last month, with the 33-year-old confident about the state of his game heading into the weekend.

"I know I've got the game, that's all I need," McIlroy added. "I just need to go out and play my game and play my golf over the next two days and that's all I can do.

"Cam Smith goes out and shoots another two rounds like he did the first