Late slips halt Rory McIlroy charge at Quail Hollow

McIlroy, looking for his third triumph at Quail Hollow, started Friday eight shots off the top having shot a first-round 73.

The world number three went on to cut the gap to American leader Andrew Loupe with a three under par 69.

The Northern Irishman was in even better shape after 16 holes, having registered five birdies, plus a chipped-in eagle on the seventh.

But the 27-year-old then endured a frustrating finish as he posted his third and fourth bogeys of the round.

Loupe, who led alongside fellow American Steve Wheatcroft after an opening round 65, followed up with a 71 which put him on his own on eight under, a shot clear of Roberto Castro.

Chesson Hadley and Mark Hubbard were a shot further adrift, while Phil Mickelson moved into contention with a round of 70. He was among six Americans on five under par, with Wheatcroft one of them.

Mickelson produced a 15-foot putt for a birdie on the 18th, a hole which has not been kind to him in the past despite eight top-10 finishes - one of which came in 2010, when he was runner-up to McIlroy.