'Frustration' main Irish Open emotion for Rory McIlroy - but still hopeful of leaderboard charge

McIlroy shot a one-under par 69 across his second round – the exact same score as on Thursday – and has his work cut out to win a third Irish Open crown with close friend Shane Lowry nine shots better off after setting a new course record.

A misfiring putter was the cause of McIlroy’s disappointment with the Northern Irishman unable to take an array of opportunities to pick up crucial shots in Co Clare.

The highlight of McIlroy’s second round was undoubtedly an eagle on the eighth hole – bouncing back in fine fashion from a bogey at seven.

Despite having a mountain to climb as he looks to seal consecutive Irish Opens after last year’s success at The K Club, McIlroy believes he can still challenge if able to make improvements on the greens.

"Frustration (is the main emotion)," said McIlroy. “I just didn't have it on the greens, I really struggled to read them.

"It's hard whenever you struggle to read them, and then when you do get over the ball you're trying to trust what you're seeing, but everything else that you have seen hasn't went the way you thought, so it's hard to put a committed stroke on it.

"It's been a tough one on the greens the last two days, but tee to green I've actually been pretty happy with how everything else is.

"I just need to try to hole a few more over the weekend.

"Shane's going well, Tom's (McKibbin) had a couple good days. I'm hitting the ball well enough, I just need to try to hole a few more putts or get a handle on reading them a little bit better.

"I feel like I certainly have the ability and at least have the long game (to get in the mix).

"There’s some bad weather coming in tomorrow, so that should put a premium on ball striking and hitting it in the fairways and on the greens.

"If I can do that and just see a couple go in, then hopefully it's a different story.”