Rory McIlroy is back in the hunt at Ridgewood Country Club with a stunning 65 in Friday’s round of The Barclays. The six-under score puts McIlroy on three under overall, five off leaders Cameron Tringale and Adam Scott.

With three victories under his belt from his last three outings – including two majors – McIlroy came to New Jersey in the finest form of his life, but a disappointing 74 on Thursday seemed to put a skid to his stride, with the world No. 1 admitting he may have lost focus amid the haze of the past few weeks. Yesterday however he sent a shiver through the spine of the opposition with a performance that made light work of the challenging course.

"The work that I did yesterday on the range really helped, just sort of got back into the rhythm and into the flow of things," McIlroy told Reuters yesterday.

"I don't think I missed a green on the front nine (today). I knew that my game was there and I just needed to take advantage of the chances I was giving myself."

"I was asked yesterday after I played, if you're going to battle to make the cut or whatever. I said missing the cut isn't an option," McIlroy said.

"I know how well I am playing and how comfortable I am with my game, so even to miss a cut feeling like that would have felt really bad.

"So that's why I put a little bit extra effort in yesterday and this morning and made sure I was ready to go out there this afternoon."

Graeme McDowell continues to lead the Irish charge in New Jersey, on four under after a three under round of 68 yesterday.