Rory McIlroy messed up his lines after making a strong start.

McIlroy’s first-round 65 was intended to be the start of a Southern Hills triumph parade.

After all, he’s won the last three Majors he’s started with a low round of 66 or better.

That was the story at the 2011 US Open, and three years later at the Open and USPGA.

But McIlroy’s victory on the USPGA Tour in 2014 was his last of four Major titles, and he no longer looks like the player he was then.

Indeed, a dreadful 71 in the second round this time put him five shots behind the leader.

It was, however, set up for a Rory rampage. The early morning gusts died away to a mild breeze, and the players in McIlroy’s half of the draw feasted on birdies and mid-sixties scores.

McIlroy, 33, will have to buck the trend at Southern Hills if he wants to come from behind and end the Major drought.

At Tulsa, all seven previous Major champions were in the top two at the halfway mark.

Tiger Woods was the most recent winner, winning the USPGA in 2007.

Despite the evident discomfort from the right leg he shattered in a life-threatening automobile accident 15 months ago, Woods, 46, has already won his individual struggle by making the cut this week.