Rory McIlroy has admitted that he cannot explain his recent Friday form as he attempts to put an end to it at this week's Open Championship at Hoylake.

The Northern Irishman has wasted several promising starts to tournaments in recent weeks by falling down the leaderboard after poor second-round performances.

At last week's Scottish Open, the two-time Major winner carded a course-record 64 on Thursday before shooting a seven-over-par round 24 hours later, and McIlroy has confessed that the problem is "getting into his head".

"I have no problem shooting a low one on Thursdays, so there should be no reason I have any problem shooting a low one on Fridays," he told reporters.

"I need to go out and pretend like it's a Thursday again. I'm putting pressure on myself to back up a low round on Thursday. I just need to try to keep it a little tighter when things aren't 100%."

McIlroy's best finish at The Open is tied third at the 2010 event at St Andrews.