Relaxed Rory McIlroy must now move through the gears

Rory McIlroy has completed the first half of his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open objective by making a first cut in four years, but now he has to find a way to convert his recent good form and deliver a first victory of 2016.

The world number three, without a win since last November’s European Tour DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, feels he has been knocking on the door for much of this season with seven top-10 finishes and a tie for 12th at last weekend’s Players Championship.

Yesterday at the K Club, McIlroy was far from in the groove as he shot a second-round 70 featuring five birdies and three bogeys. Yet he trails Masters champion Danny Willett and Scotland’s Marc Warren by only a shot heading into today’s third round and having avoided a fourth straight Irish Open missed cut, the question remains whether he can now move through the gears and secure the win he feels is just a short distance away.