DEFIANT MAC READY FOR EPIC STRUGGLE

RORY MCILROY is promising to come out with all guns blazing after firing too many blanks on Open moving day.

Mcilroy got off to a slow start and, after a five-birdie surge in 10 holes, bogeyed two of the last three to finish four adrift of the lead on five under.

But the Northern Irishman, who has gone four years without a Major win, still believes he has a good chance of claiming his second Claret Jug.

He said: “I am a little bit angry with that finish but have to regroup for tomorrow. I will have to get the driver in my hand tomorrow and give myself some birdie looks.

“I will try to get off to a fast start, post a number and see what happens.

“I’m still in the tournament. I’m only a few shots behind. The wind is supposed to pick up a little bit. So it will make things interesting.”

Mcilroy was closing in on the leaders before missing a shortish par putt on the 16th, where he was distracted by a photographer.

But he refused to blame the snapper, saying: “I probably just didn’t give myself enough time to regroup after a photographer was in a world of his own.

“He was taking a photo of the crowd instead of paying attention to the golf. It’s fine. That’s one of the things that happens.”

With two of the co-leaders, Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner, yet to win a Major, Mcilroy feels his experience – having won four – could be a factor. He said: “I’ve got a bit of experience at this, maybe more so than some of the other guys on the leaderboard, but it is packed with a lot of very, very good players. I just need to regroup and attack it.

“It was a frustrating finish. I felt walking onto 16 at three under that was good. I am disappointed to drop a couple in the last three holes and I will try and make up for it and catch the leaders.”