McIlroy shoots to top of Italian Open leaderboard

Rory McIlroy carded a brilliant five-under 66 to shoot to the top of the Italian Open leaderboard on Friday.

McIlroy - who was edged out by one shot by Shane Lowry at last weekend's BMW PGA Championship - heads for the weekend with another title in sight as he followed up Thursday's 67 with a fine round that left him on nine-under-par overall.

FULL LEADERBOARD

He's one clear of US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick who had set the clubhouse target in the DS Automobiles Italian Open, despite bemoaning an "inconsistent" display.

Fitzpatrick had to complete the final three holes of his first round on Friday following Thursday's weather delay and made two birdies and one bogey to complete an opening 65.

The world number 11 then started his second round on the back nine at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club and bogeyed the 10th, but followed that with five straight birdies to open up a four-shot lead.

However, Fitzpatrick dropped shots on the 16th and 17th and made his first par of the day on the 18th, before covering the front nine in level par with two birdies and two bogeys.

The resulting 69 gave Fitzpatrick a halfway total of eight under par and a one-shot lead over fellow Englishman Tom Lewis, with France's Victor Perez another stroke behind.

"Pretty inconsistent really," was how Fitzpatrick summed up his day.

"I've played some really good stuff, (made) some sloppy mistakes which was obviously disappointing but plenty of birdies, which was always a positive. Going into the weekend in the position I'm in, I'm very happy."

Niall Kearney is level par after a much-improved round of four-under 67, while Cormac Sharvin's second consecutive 73 leaves him four-over alongside Paul Dunne.