Teenager Rory McIlroy retains Open chance

Jul 13 2008 By Euan Mclean

TEEN sensation Rory McIlroy showed maturity beyond his 19 years to weather a stormy back nine and keep alive his hopes of making it to this week's Open.

The Northern Irishman, who won the Silver Medal for leading amateur at Carnoustie last year, is chasing the last qualifying spot for Royal Birkdale.

And he needs to put in a sizzling round today to finish in the top five if he's to have any chance of making The Open.

But McIlroy is just pleased to still be in with a shout after surviving four back-nine bogeys to shoot a solid 68 and move to six under for the week.

He said: "I had a few bad ones on the back nine but fortunately there were also a few birdies in between and overall it was a pretty good day.

"I'm not even thinking about next week.

I just want to play well here and if it's enough then great. If not I always have the next 30 years to play The Open.

"But I have great memories from last year so it would be great to reach Birkdale."

South African early starter James Kingston is level with McIlroy on six under after posting a tremendous 67 while conditions were at their toughest.

He said: "To score 67 while the course was playing like that is really satisfying."