FIRST round leader Rory McIlroy is confident he can avoid a re-run of Freaky Friday in the Open today, despite wind and rain being forecast for Hoylake.

Irish superstar McIlroy romped to the top of the leaderboard at Royal Liverpool yesterday after carding a stunning six-under-par 66 that contained no bogeys.

That put him one shot ahead of Italian Matteo Manassero on five-under-par and two ahead of a cluster of seven players on four-under-par.

However, the former US Open and US PGA champion has had a tendency to start tournaments strongly this season and then fall away dramatically.

The 25-year-old is collectively 55-under-par for the first rounds he has played in tournaments this season - but 15-over-par for the second rounds he has carded. McIlroy said: "I had a bad Friday afternoon at Augusta and just made the cut. I also started off horrifically at Quali Hollow on Friday afternoon. Then I did the same thing at Sawgrass.

"That was when I first became conscious of it. But there is nothing really to it.

"Maybe I have high expectations going out after shooting a low round. I am just going to try and put those expectations aside and take it one hole at a time.

"I see that there could be some weather moving in, high winds and heavy rain and maybe a couple of thunderstorms.

"But I feel like I am well prepared this week for the weather conditions."