HAVING witnessed how teenager Rory McIlroy failed to repeat his first-day heroics at Carnoustie, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez last night urged the British public to be patient while the young amateur continues his rise to prominence.

The two golfers are at opposite ends of the experience scale but enjoyed one another's company in the opening two rounds of The Open Championship.

But where Jimenez used his 43 years of experience to strengthen his own hopes of landing the Claret Jug with a steady 70, which took him to three under for the tournament, McIlroy fell apart.

The 18-year-old - who qualified by virtue of winning last year's European Amateur Stroke Play title in Italy - failed to build on his opening round 68 that left him in touch with overnight leader Sergio Garcia.

His Thursday performance raised hopes that McIlroy could go on to repeat Justin Rose's fourth-place finish as an amateur at Royal Birkdale nine years ago.

But, despite making the cut and sitting on two over par after yesterday's 76, that would seem highly unlikely and Jimenez feels it is up to the golfing fraternity to protect him from the media glare.

"He's a very good player," said Jimenez.

"He's 18 years-old and has all of his life in front of him. He's a young player, still a little bit like a kid, so don't put too much pressure on him.

"He's a great player and has a big future.

"He can handle himself but sometimes people can put too much pressure on players. He's a little bit too young at the moment but he did very well. You have to take care not to do that."

Jimenez showed he has been around in the game long enough to make sure he did not fall victim to the occasion.

And, after a week in which Spanish golf learnt of the great Seve Ballesteros' retirement, the man from the southern resort of Malaga did his level best to give his country every chance of celebrating tomorrow.

A steady round of 70, that was lit up on the challenging 16th when his two iron came within two inches of a hole-in-one, has left Jimenez on three under for the Championship and in touch with the leaders.

"We have to say thank you to Seve for what he did for golf. The sport has grown with him, with the help of him," he said. "I hope I have a chance to win this major here, we'll see what happens. To do it this week would be extra special. I feel very good."

American Jim Furyk is also in contention, although he was left to rue two bogeys at the 12th and 18th that cost him an even stronger place on the leaderboard.

Furyk has claimed three top-ten places in his last four PGA Tour events and his good form was highlighted with four birdies around the Angus course.

Despite his late bogeys, he believes that sitting four shots off Garcia means he is still in with a decent shout of his first major since winning the US Open in 2003.

"I'm happy with my standing on two under par. It's nice to be within a respectable distance of the leaders," said Furyk, who revealed the secret to his success was a quick pint on the night before the round at the Kinloch Arms

"It's fun. My wife and I were looking for a place to eat. We ended up having, believe it or not, a couple of pizzas because all the Americans had told me there was a nice place on the High Street.

"I had to have a quick pint with a couple of others while I was there."