Rory McIlroy believes he has nearly shrugged off his ring rust after surging into contention at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The World Number Two is playing in Europe for the first time since completing the career Grand Slam following his Masters Tournament victory in April.
It is also his first start in nearly three weeks and following a conservative -2 68 during his opening round at the Renaissance Club, the Northern Irishman rolled in six birdies and a late bogey -5 65 to sit four shots at -7, adrift of clubhouse leader Chris Gotterup -11
Ahead of next week's Open Championship on home soil at Royal Portrush, the 36-year-old is confident he has shaken off any rustiness caused by inactivity as he aims to secure his fifth Rolex Series title in North Berwick.
"[Shaken off] most of it," McIlroy said. "There's still a few loose shots in there, but for the most part it was a good day.
"I holed a lot of putts. I did most things pretty well. So yeah, it was a good day for that, getting into contention and then seeing how your game holds up when you're in the thick of things, trying to win a golf tournament.
"I think that tells you a lot more about where you are than just the first two days of a tournament."
McIlroy took advantage of calmer conditions on the East Lothian coastline course and birdied five of his first seven holes to move ominously up the leaderboard.
The wind picked up slightly as he reached the turn, but he still picked up a shot at the fifth to reach eight under.
However, he blotted his card when he pushed a short par putt right of the cup at the eighth, his penultimate hole, to slip back.
"I mean, the conditions this morning, I felt like if we didn't play the first nine in three for four under you're losing strokes to the field.
"I got off to a bit of a flier. The conditions were so benign this morning, hardly any wind, and the wind started to pick up a little bit on the back nine for us but still very, very manageable. It was nice to play in those conditions.
"Disappointing to drop one coming in there, but overall it's a really good score and puts me right into the thick of things going into the weekend.
"Overall, I thought it was a good day and obviously excited for the weekend right in the thick of things.
"In contention going into the last two days and you know that's where if there is anything you need to work on in your game, that's where it's going to show when you're under that sort of pressure trying to win a golf tournament. I'm looking forward to that."
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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