Rory McIlroy explains how he can get in Open title contention after round-two resurgence

Rory McIlroy believes he can still win a second Open title at Royal Birkdale after ensuring he made the cut with a second-round 67 on Friday.He carded four birdies and could have had more after a fine performance off the tee created further opportunities he was unable to take.The world number two said: “I think if I can get off to a decent start tomorrow, be four or five under for the tournament, I’ll be right in it.“It depends on the conditions and the way the wind direction is but I think I’ve driven the ball so well the last two days.Back in it: Rory McIlroyPA“I think any time I can get a driver in my hand, I’m going to try to. I just feel like with how I’m feeling with the driver, I think it’s a big advantage.“I’ll continue to do that but I’m still trying to figure out these greens a little bit. I’ve struggled the last couple of days.“It was a little better today but I still didn’t feel 100 per cent comfortable.”McIlroy was frustrated he was not able to take full advantage of ideal scoring conditions.The Northern Irishman said: “I felt like I had momentum coming off the end of the front nine with the two birdies on eight and nine but I stalled a little bit on the back.“The main objective was to be here for the weekend, which I am, but I felt like I left a couple out there. Then you look at the board and you see a couple of 62s and you feel like you could have done a bit better.”One of the highlights of McIlroy’s round came on the 414-yard par-four ninth, where he drove to the green for a second day in succession.Read MoreHe said: “The practice rounds I played were in a completely different wind direction and I didn’t even think about it.“Then when I got on the tee yesterday and saw the wind, it was like, as long as I just strike it well, that should be fine.“Then today I got there again and, honestly, my game plan was to hit it to the top of the hill and hit a wedge on and go from there, but sometimes opportunities present themselves and you have to take them.”