22 July, 2017
"There's a whole lot of trouble to be had, and trying to hit solid shots that the wind is going to affect the least is challenging", he said after completing a round that included four bogeys - two in the last three holes - and three birdies.
As impressive as the Friday start was, however, a bigger boost might have come from what McIlroy did once he made the turn. Everything was strong. I give it a nine across the board for everything - tee balls, ball-striking, short game and putting.
"I thought today's round was extremely important, as they all are, but given the forecast coming in, I thought you really needed to be in the red today".
Poulter is in the penultimate last pairing to tee-off this afternoon and will get going at 3.45pm alongside American Brooks Koepka.
"That stretch, 10, 11, 12, just to keep the momentum going and keep the round going, they were all huge", McIlroy said.
Winning consecutive majors is a real rarity, but Koepka has given himself a real chance of doing just that thanks to his stellar opening round.
The left-hander had made life hard for himself with a triple bogey on the par-four third hole. But a stunning eagle at the par-4 17th vaulted him into a share of the lead.
Birdies on the first, third and sixth - the toughest hole on the course where he knocked his approach to little more than a metre - had McIlroy at two-under for the championship.
Paul Casey and Charl Schwartzel at 66, with five others another shot back.
T6. Richard Bland (-1): The 44-year-old Bland started with two birdies in his first four holes but fell out of contention for a spot with the leaders with three bogeys later in the round and a double-bogey on 13.
"I was very proud of myself that I hung in there and tried to stay as positive as I possibly could", he said. I get to kick back in the afternoon and watch the guys just try to survive [which] is pretty much all you can do.
Among those lurking at two-under are Japan's world number two Hideki Matsuyama, Sweden's Alex Noren, the world number nine, and twice former victor Ernie Els of South Africa. I was very fortunate to have the horn blow at that moment in time and I could sit back and regroup and nearly play the last eight holes as a new round.
"To be in after two days and be under par for this championship after the way I started, I'm ecstatic with that", said McIlroy.
Defending Open champion Henrik Stenson is in the hunt after a one-under 69.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson joined McIlroy on one over, as did Rickie Fowler.
