Rory's hopes of glory fade

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McIlroy almost stole the show from first-round leader Sergio Garcia with an opening three-under 68, the only player in the 156-strong field not to card a single bogey.

The 18-year-old from Holywood evoked memories of Rose's fourth place at Birkdale in 1998 as a 17-year-old amateur. Rose shot a 66 in the second round on that occasion - equalling the lowest round in the Open by an amateur - but McIlroy struggled to a 76 and two-over-par halfway total of 144.

A first bogey of the championship was soon on his card, McIlroy finding heavy rough and a bunker on the second and eventually holing from seven feet to salvage a bogey five.

A birdie on the fourth repaired the damage but the former European amateur champion then bogeyed the fifth and three-putted the sixth for par after reaching the green on the 578-yard par five in two.

Worse was to come on the ninth where a pulled approach found the burn to the left of the fairway and the resulting double bogey dropped him back to level par.

Further bogeys followed on the 11th, 12th and 17th, but a birdie on the 14th ensured he would make the halfway cut and remain the favourite for the silver medal for leading amateur who completes all 72 holes.

Garcia still led the way on six under par with four holes to play, the Ryder Cup star carding two birdies and two bogeys but it was a par-saving shot on the first which was the real highlight.

His approach to the first green was pushed well right into thick rough, leaving the Spanish star with a daunting pitch over a greenside bunker to the flag.

Anywhere within 10 feet of the hole looked like being a good result but Garcia conjured up a superb shot which landed on the bank of the bunker and rolled down to within a foot.