Rory McIlroy bounces back with 67 at The Open Championship

Rory McIlroy erased his first-round struggles with a three-under 67 on Friday at The Open Championship, moving to even par for the tournament after a three-over opener.

What happened at Royal Birkdale?

McIlroy, the world No. 2, entered the second round at Royal Birkdale three shots over par. By the time he signed his card, he’d erased that deficit and finished with an even-par 70 for the tournament. The projected cut stood at one-over par around 11:30 a.m. ET, and McIlroy secured his spot with room to spare.

He called the round “a little better” after a shaky opening nine. “I felt like I had momentum coming off the end of the front nine with the two birdies on 8 and 9,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I stole a little bit on the back.”

Why it matters for Rory McIlroy

This bounce-back round keeps McIlroy in contention at a major where he’s chasing his seventh career title. His driver-once a liability-has become his strongest club over the last two days. “I think I’ve driven the ball so well the last two days,” he said. “Anytime I can get a driver in my hand, I’m going to try to.”

McIlroy already won the Masters in April, becoming the first player to claim back-to-back Green Jackets since Tiger Woods in 2002. Now, he’s zeroing in on the Claret Jug again, with a week left to erase his early mistakes.

What comes next?

McIlroy admitted the greens still feel foreign. “I’ve struggled the last couple of days,” he said. “It was a little better today, but still didn’t feel 100 percent comfortable.” He’ll need to sharpen his putting if he wants to contend with the 62s flashing on the leaderboard.

He’s also refining his aggression. “There’s times when I could have been more aggressive and hit iron off the tee because that was the better play,” McIlroy said. “I’m picking and choosing my spots when to be aggressive.”

The third round tees off Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET. McIlroy’s bags stay unpacked-for now.