Rory McIlroy in fifth spot in Texas but Akshay Bhatia firmly in control at midway point

Rory McIlroy lies inside the top-five at the midway point in the Valero Texas Open but overnight leader Akshay Bhatia has extended his advantage over the field.

The 22-year old Bhatia, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour win at the Barracuda Championship last year, leads by five strokes heading into the weekend, having followed up his scintillating opening 63 with a steady round of 70 on a day of relatively high scoring in San Antonio.

He currently sits on 11-under par, five strokes clear of another American trio on six-under, Brandon Todd, Russell Henley and Denny McCarthy.

One stroke further is back McIlroy, holding sole possession of fifth spot on five-under par.

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The World No. 2 posted a two-under round of 70 on Friday - beginning on the back nine, McIlroy began with an opening birdie on the 10th, before dropping a stroke at the short 16th hole after missing the green to the right. He bounced back with another birdie on the par-5 18th, draining a 7ft putt on the 5th hole to climb to five-under.

McIlroy is one stroke clear of a quartet of players on four-under, which includes Tommy Fleetwood and former US Open champion Webb Simpson.

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, Corey Conners and Thorborn Olesen are among a large cluster of players on three-under.

McIlroy will be the only Irish player to see action at the weekend, with Seamus Power and Padraig Harrington falling outside the cut-line.

Power, on +1 after Thursday, slumped to a disappointing 77, with five bogeys and a double-bogey following a wayward drive on the par-4 15th.

Likewise, Harrington finished the tournament on six-over, after carding his second successive 75.