Rory McIlroy, 37, is attempting to climb into contention at Royal Birkdale. Reports focus on his efforts to recover from a slow start during play on Thursday, which left him outside the lead positions early in the round. The coverage describes his ongoing bid to improve his position as the tournament progresses, emphasizing that his aim is to move back into contention rather than remain behind. While details beyond the slow start and his attempt to catch up are limited in the provided excerpts, the common thread across sources is McIlroy’s status during the opening phase of Thursday’s action and his intention to make ground at the course. The Belfast Telegraph reference matches the same topic and framing as the Independent, indicating continued attention to the same moment in the event. Overall, the reports present a consistent picture of McIlroy working to turn an underwhelming early performance into a stronger competitive position at Royal Birkdale.