Summary The 25-year-old Irishman dropped his first shot of the tournament on the opening hole.
HOYLAKE (AFP) - Rory McIlroy's one stroke overnight lead was short-lived in the second round of the Briish Open at Royal Liverpool on Friday.
The 25-year-old Irishman, who had a bogey-free 66 on Thursday, dropped his first shot of the tournament on the opening hole when he overhit his approach shot.
He was then caught by Italian pair Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero, who both moved to five under after a handfull of holes.
Molinari was briefly clear at six over at one stage, but he made a mess and a double bogey of the eighth to fall back to four under.
Sergio Gracia holed for an eagle at the par-four second to also get to five under amid a packed leaderboard full of big international names.
The leader in the clubnouse was South African George Coetzee who came in with a fine 69 to set the benchmark at five under.
And with the breeze stiffening over the Wirral links, he was a good bet to be still near the lead by the end of the round.
There was trouble early on for Tiger Woods.
He started at three under, but a double at the first and a bogey at the second saw him slip of the leaderboard at level par.
