Open projected cut as Rory McIlroy's challenge becomes clearer ahead of second round

Rory McIlroy will likely need a second round of three-under-par or better if he is to make the cut at The Open after a disastrous opening round at Royal Troon.

The projected cut was four over at the time of writing shortly ahead of McIlroy's second round getting under way at 3.10pm.

McIlroy was level par after seven holes of his opening round on Thursday before running up a double bogey on the signature par-three eighth, the Irishman’s first attempt to escape a bunker on the Postage Stamp coming back to his feet.

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After also dropping a shot on the 10th, McIlroy then carved his tee shot on the difficult 11th out of bounds towards the adjacent railway line, another double bogey dropping him to five over par.

McIlroy had also bogeyed the 15th but could only par the 16th after laying up short of the burn which runs across the fairway off the tee, but then pushing his second shot into the heavy rough.

He saved par from a greenside bunker on the 17th but found more sand off the tee on the last, a fourth bogey of the day completing a miserable 78.

He said afterwards: The course was playing tough. Conditions were very difficult in a wind that we have not seen so far this week.

“When that happens it presents different options and I didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.”

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