Carnoustie, Scotland …

Rory McIlroy won the ‘Low Amateur’ medal when last at Carnoustie in 2007 and now the Northern Irishman is primed to go one better with two rounds to play at the 147th Open.

A pair of 69s has McIlroy trailing just two adrift of the leading duo of fellow Open Champion Zach Johnson (67) and Kevin Kisner (70) heading to the final two days.

The first decent rain in Scotland for some time greeted McIlroy and the morning players and very much affecting scoring on the famed Angus course.

Rory McIlroy reacts to missing a birdie putt on the last in a second straight round of 69. (@theopen)

McIlroy revelled in the conditions picking-up two birdies in his opening 10 holes and while he bogeyed 12 he grabbed birdies at 13 and 14 before dropping a second shot of his round at 15 and then to only miss a birdie putt on the last.

“Under those conditions, I would have taken that score going out,” said McIlroy. “It wasn’t that bad but it was just damp enough and cold enough that I just couldn’t do my gameplan of being aggressive and hitting driver a lot.

“A lot more irons off tees and I was a lot more conservative but it ended up being the same score. So I’m pretty pleased with that.

“It required a lot of patience. On a day like that, you just need to scramble and keep yourself in it.

“I feel like I played in the toughest of the conditions and had to sort of tough it out a little bit. I’m happy to be in with a shot.

“It was definitely a day where you’re trying not to shoot yourself out of the tournament instead of trying to press on and build a lead or get an advantage.”