Rory McIlroy: 'I feel like I could be a couple closer to the lead'

Rory McIlroy sits on three-under heading into the weekend at The Open . 

Rory McIlroy said Royal Portrush is "quite visually intimidating off the tee." Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Rory McIlroy has done what he couldn’t do here in 2019 and survived The Open Championship cut, but it was a day of mixed emotions for the reigning Masters champion who, at the end of his round, sat five shots off the clubhouse lead.

“Another solid day,” he said after a 69 to add to his opening 70 for a three-under total. “A couple under, improved a little bit on yesterday, hit it in play a little bit more off the tee, which was nice to have some looks out of the fairway and into some of these greens.