Rory hangs in but admits he survived a close encounter

Relieved McIlroy makes cut as Clarke drops out and Oosthuizen stays in lead

Cutting up rough: Rory McIlroy shoots his way out of trouble at The Open yesterday. Credit: David Davies/PA

Leader: Louis Oosthuizen. Credit: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images

Cutting up rough: Rory McIlroy shoots his way out of trouble at The Open yesterday. Credit: David Davies/PA

Leader: Louis Oosthuizen. Credit: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images

Getty Images

Cutting up rough: Rory McIlroy shoots his way out of trouble at The Open yesterday. Credit: David Davies/PA

Adam McKendry Twitter Email

July 17 2021 11:00 AM

Rory McIlroy looked a frustrated figure after admitting his game is “not close enough” as he battled to make the cut at The Open at Royal St George’s.

The Holywood man had to grind to a second level-par round of 70 at the Kent course to make the cut line by one stroke and will head into the weekend 11 shots adrift of leader Louis Oosthuizen, who followed Thursday’s six-under 64 with a 65 to lead by two from Collin Morikawa.

Oosthuizen’s 129 is the lowest halfway total in championship history.

McIlroy did well to battle back from two bogeys to start his round but, after hauling himself under-par after the 12th, back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17 had him at risk of missing out on the third and fourth rounds, but he birdied his final hole to end any doubt.

But that wasn’t enough to please the 2014 Open champion, who was left bemoaning what could have been if he had produced his best form at Royal St George’s.

“If I was really on my game and sharp the last two days I could have been six or seven-under. My game is close but it’s not close enough,” he sighed.

“That’s the way it’s kind of been for the last few months, it just hasn’t quite been close enough. I’ve just got to keep at it, persist and keep my head down.

“You see the progress, but then the progress has to become not just every once in a while, it has to become every single time, and I’m working towards that.”

2011 champion Darren Clarke’s challenge came to an end as a run of three bogeys and a triple-bogey in five holes led to a five-over 75 as he missed the cut at six-over for the week.

“I didn’t play well, I didn’t hit the ball well and I got what I deserved. I’ve been playing a lot better than that so I’m disappointed,” said Clarke.

Defending champion Shane Lowry isn’t relinquishing his hold on the Claret Jug just yet after firing a 65 to sit seven shots back of Oosthuizen at four-under, while Padraig Harrington is also into the weekend at level-par.

Rory hangs in but admits he survived a close encounter

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