The Open day two: Rory McIlroy eager to build on promising start

World number two Rory McIlroy admits he cannot afford to let a promising start to the 150th Open Championship go to waste.

The Northern Irishman, winner of the Claret Jug in 2014, is just two strokes behind leader Cameron Young, who fired eight birdies in a flawless 64 – a score only McIlroy himself has beaten in the first round of an Open on the Old Course.

McIlroy’s 63 came back in 2010 and was followed by an 80 in terrible weather, while an ankle injury suffered playing football prevented him from bidding to retain the Claret Jug at the same venue in 2015.

“It’s another good start at a major, three in a row for me now, and I’m looking forward to the next few days,” said McIlroy, who is well aware he has failed to turn those good starts into overdue wins with a third-round 74 doing the damage in the US PGA and a 73 at the same stage of the US Open proving equally costly.

“I need to go out and back up what I just did. I think that’s important to do.

“I’ve been playing well, I’ve been swinging the club well, and I think it’s better if I don’t think about it that much and I just go out and play golf and try to shoot some good scores on one of my favourite golf courses in the world.”

It's just a joke, isn't it? Like six hours, 10 (minutes). This just shouldn't be happening ever in golf- Matt Fitzpatrick

In stark contrast, 15-time major winner Tiger Woods started badly, hitting his approach from a fairway divot into the Swilcan Burn at the first, and went on to card just three birdies in a six-over-par round of 78 – completed six hours and eight minutes after teeing off.

The American’s playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick, the new US Open champion, was less-than impressed.

“It’s just a joke, isn’t it? Like six hours, 10