Rory McIlroy fails to take advantage of favourable conditions as he remains well off the pace at the Open Championship

Rory McIlroy failed to make any significant inroads after carding a one-under par round of 69 at the Open Championship.

McIlroy started the day seven shots behind and Masters champion McIlroy will feel frustrated at not capitalising on the benign conditions at Royal Birkdale.

placeholder image — Rory McIlroy reacts on the 18th green during day three of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport

Back-to-back bogeys at the third and the fourth – where he missed a par putt from inside five feet – dropped him back to one over before picking up his first shot at the driveable par-four fifth, getting up and down from the front hollow.

The highlight of his round was a 348-yard drive just short of the 9th green and a chip in for eagle, which the Northern Irishman looked somewhat bemused by.

But having got to two under at the turn, another bogey at the 11th returned him to where he had started the round, still seven off the lead.

McIlroy then carded five successive pars before moving to two-under with a birdie on 17, with a par at the last completing his round.