Rory blocks out the distractions

RORy McILROy arrived at the ASI Scottish Open thinking that if he could muster four rounds of 67, he’d have a good chance of claiming his first victory in Scotland.

‘Now it looks as if I will need two more 67s to finish in the top 20!’ he said, smiling, after opening with a pair of four-under-par scores for a halfway total of 136 that has still left him six shots off the lead.

With one eye on the Open at Royal Portrush, and the historic occasion for the Northern Irishman that is looming ever closer, the 30-year-old was buoyant.

‘I haven’t seen anything to worry about in my game,’ he said. ‘I’m driving it well. The two iron in the bag has been good, as has my wedge play, and I’ve holed some putts.’

McIlroy revealed that he is successfully blocking out the distractions regarding next week by keeping his phone on the ‘do not disturb’ setting. ‘Life is complicated enough without all the other stuff,’ he said. ‘Honestly, I have not thought much or talked much to people about next week. The competitor in me is concentrating on this event and getting a fast start in the third round to be in the mix for Sunday.’ Judging by what we’ve seen so far, he’s going to need something in the low sixties on the defenceless Renaissance course to achieve that. Setting the pace at halfway were England’s Lee Slattery, South African Erik van Rooyen and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. Ian Poulter (below) is going well with two 66s to be four behind, alongside fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick and Italian Eduardo Molinari — who is desperate to claim one of three spots into the Open for the leading players not already exempt. His brother Francesco, of course, is the defending champion next week.