SOUTHPORT, England — Rory McIlroy got into contention in the British Open with three birdies on the front nine today. He stayed there with three pars that were just as critical.

McIlroy holed par putts of about 10 feet on the 10th and 11th holes to start the back nine. His tee shot on the par-3 12th tumbled into a pot bunker, and he nearly holed that one.

He remained at 2 under for the tournament.

Matt Kuchar reached 6 under for the second time Friday, only to make bogey on the 16th hole to fall back to 5 under. Of the 24 players who have finished the second round, Jamie Lovemark (69) was the only one to break par.

McIlroy was hanging his head on Thursday. There was a bounce in his step on Friday at the British Open.

McIlroy made three birdies and shot 31 on the front nine at Royal Birkdale. That’s eight shots better than his opening round, and suddenly he’s back in contention again. McIlroy was only three shots out of the lead.

Kuchar is even for the day and still atop the leaderboard at 5 under. The other co-leaders, Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka, don’t tee off until the afternoon when the wind is supposed to get even stronger.

Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson is in danger of missing another cut in a major. Johnson is in the same group as McIlroy. The No. 1 player in the world has made only one birdie in 27 holes. He is 3 over for the tournament.

Sergio Garcia appears to have a problem with his right shoulder after angrily swinging his club into shrubs on the fourth hole of the second round.

The Masters champion sent his tee shot to the back left of the green near some bushes at Royal Birkdale. He didn’t have a full back swing and his second shot came up short.