Rory McIlroy rides rocky road but stays in US Open hunt

Northern Irishman scores 72 but trails Åberg by twoFrancesco Molinari makes cut with ace on final hole

Rory McIlroy remained in the frame for a drought-busting fifth major title after staring down multiple moments of crisis on Friday as the 124th playing of the US Open reached the halfway mark amid oppressive North Carolina heat.

The in-form Northern Irishman scored an eventful 72 after Thursday’s five-under-par 65 to lie two shots off the pace set by Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, the 23-year-old Masters runner-up in his third career appearance at one of golf’s four bedrock tournaments.