World No.1 Rory McIlroy gave weekend hackers hope with a wild second round at the Australian Open on Friday.

The world No.1 was sublime and sloppy in equal measures as he eked out a two-under-par 69 to be just one off the pace in his title defence at the Australian Golf Club.

McIlroy’s mixed bag featured an eagle, six birdies and six bogeys.

He only had one par on a rollercoaster back nine and earlier left spectators aghast with one horrible shot that ended in the drink.

After a monster drive down the par-4 seventh, McIlroy left spectators open-jawed when his routine 75-metre pitched trickled off the green and into the water.

He atoned with a superb eagle on the 459-metre par-5 14th and birdies either side of a dropped shot on the 16th to be right in the hunt heading into the weekend.

But the Northern Irishman still felt like he missed an opportunity to take a stranglehold on the Stonehaven Cup.

“I felt like I played much better than I did yesterday, so I don’t quite feel like the score reflected,” he said.

“The wind was pretty tricky to be honest and I misjudged a few wedge shots.

“I was happy with the way I finished. I was four under for the last five holes and came back well.”

McIlroy still feels in control of his own destiny.

“I had six birdies and an eagle today. Eliminate the bad stuff and you turn that into a good score,” he said.

“I’ll be doing my best tomorrow to shoot a low number.”