Rory McIlroy: World number three six off Pebble Beach pace after erratic 70

Up until his exploits on the closing hole, McIlroy’s back nine frustration was summed up by his failure to exploit a huge drive on the par-five 14th as his pulled seven-iron approach was followed by a clumsy belly wedge, with the 15-foot birdie putt failing to drop.

There was no escape at the next as his approach into a greenside bunker resulted in another dropped shot and a further stroke went at the short 17th when his tee shot finished over 20 yards short of the green.

However, McIlroy did finish his round on a high as his eagle moved him to within six of Straka after his huge drive and accurate approach.

The four-time major winner’s fast start had included birdies at the second, fourth and sixth before he carded a two at the iconic par-three seventh hole where Lowry holed-in-one on Thursday.

But the world number three’s momentum was halted as a run of four straight pars – which included a wedge from only 87 yards on the 11th which spun back 30 feet from the pin – was followed by successive bogeys when he short-sided himself on the short 12th and found a bunker off the tee at the next.

McIlroy continued to make errors during the remainder of his back nine before his big finish.