Open 2014: Rory McIlroy aiming to avoid destructive round

Rory McIlroy believes he will "not be too far away" in this week's Open Championship if he can avoid the one bad round in tournaments which has plagued much of his 2014 season to date.

"I feel like I am playing well in three, three and a half rounds in tournaments," McIlroy told BBC Sport Northern Ireland's Stephen Watson.

McIlroy is hoping for a more productive week at Hoylake than his first competitive outing at the Royal Liverpool venue in 2003 when he was beaten in the first round of the British Boys Championship.

The world number eight's build-up to the championship has included a couple of rounds at Royal County Down in his native Northern Ireland.