McIlroy on road to success

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And this time his birdie three on the famous Road Hole 17th at St Andrews helped the prodigiously talented 20-year-old into a share of the halfway lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

McIlroy, needing a top-two finish to go top of the European money list, is alongside fellow Northern Irishman Michael Hoey and Scot Richie Ramsay on 11 under par after a superb 65.

And what made it extra special was the fact that he is competing in the celebrity pro-am with dad Gerry, 50 this coming Monday.

After three-putting the 16th for what was his only bogey on the opening two days McIlroy had his father come over to him to say: "You've finished 3-3 before, so why not do it again?"

The Dubai Desert Classic champion was already thinking the same, hit a drive and seven-iron to 15 feet, made the putt and then smashed another drive onto the 18th green 350 yards away - something he had never done before - and two-putted.

There is a lot at stake this weekend - not least a first prize of more than £485,000 - but before transferring to Kingsbarns for the third round McIlroy added: "I think playing with my Dad will be a great distraction.

"Growing up I never thought he'd be able to walk up the 18th at St Andrews with me in this big a tournament. It's fantastic."

Four off the lead at the start of the day, but given a chance to take over at the top with Thomas Bjorn adding only a 74 at Carnoustie to his 64 at Kingsbarns, McIlroy birdied the third and then eagled the 568-yard fifth with a five-wood to 12 feet.

Three more birdies were to follow before his stumble three holes from home, but that was quickly forgotten.