Rory McIlroy continues promising build-up to The Open by claiming halfway lead at the Scottish Open

Rory McIlroy claimed a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Genesis Scottish Open — and the omens looks good for next week’s Open.

McIlroy added a second round 66 to his opening 64 at the Renaissance Club to reach 10-under, a shot ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton and South Korean pair Tom Kim and An Byeong-hun.

It is the fifth time McIlroy has started with two scores of 66 or better. He has a runner-up finish and three wins from those previous four occasions — the most recent being his 2014 Open win at Hoylake, the venue for next week’s major.

‘I hit the ball really well tee to green, gave myself a ton of looks at birdie,’ McIlroy said. ‘It felt like four-under was the worst I could have shot.

‘It’s swings and roundabouts. I holed a couple of long ones on Thursday to shoot a good score and missed a couple today, but overall I’m really pleased.’

England’s Tyrrell Hatton is in a three-way tie for second with Tom Kim and An Byeong-hun

Saturday’s tee times have been brought forward due to the forecast for thunderstorms, with winds of up to 40mph.

‘I don’t really have any expectations,’ McIlroy said. ‘It would be silly of me to try to pick a potential target score. I will embrace the conditions and just make the best of them.

‘I’m playing well enough tee to green to give myself some looks and hang in there, so I’m pretty confident going into the next two days.

‘We are all looking forward to next week, but I want to go and win this tournament.’

Another two Hoylake favourites also moved into contention on a good day for low scoring.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler shot a 65 to stand on seven-under, three back, Rickie Fowler, who came second to McIlroy in 2014, was another shot behind after a 67.

Meanwhile, Charley Hull grabbed the first round lead at the Aramco Team Series event at Centurion in London — despite firing a 10!

The English woman, who came second at the US Open on Sunday, carded a quintuple bogey on the par five sixth, but also made 10 birdies. She shares the lead on five-under with American Nelly Korda.