Rory McIlroy all but blew away his chances of a first British Open victory in yesterday’s second round, but insisted he could still make up enough lost ground at the weekend to win a second major.

The 23-year-old Ulsterman was out of sorts all day at a damp and cold Royal Lytham, firing three bogeys and one double bogey against two birdies to come in with a five-over par 75. That left him at two over for the tournament and just under the projected line for the cut. “It wasn’t the best day out there,” he agreed.