At precisely 8.31am yesterday, Rory McIlroy - a precocious teenager in a man's world - was announced on the first tee in the dulcet tones of the official starter, Ivor Robson.

It is a task that the silver-haired Robson has undertaken countless times, but it was only the second time McIlroy's name was so heralded. You've got to think it is far from the last time.

Pumped with adrenalin, and with not a sign of nerves, McIlroy's first action of his second round in his British Open debut was to smack a two-iron 290 yards down the fairway of this emerald links. Yep, this kid, all 18 years of him, belongs in the big time, and the cluster of photographers who walked in the high grass to follow his every move confirmed the growing fixation with the two-time Irish Close champion and reigning European Amateur champion.

Perhaps fittingly, McIlroy, the future of Irish golf, teed-off just 22 minutes after Padraig Harrington, following in the Dubliner's footsteps and occupying the same stage as a player who has scaled virtually every height as a professional, with the one exception of capturing a major.

While McIlroy's primary aim this week was to win the silver medal awarded to the leading amateur, Harrington's eyes were on a different piece of silver, that of the Claret Jug awarded to the champion. But Harrington's hopes were dented by a double-bogey six on his 18th hole, which had him signing for a 73, leaving him on 142, level par, at the midway point.

"That six is not going to affect the outcome of this tournament for me. I don't want to be too far behind, but it just means that I go out and play good golf for the weekend. That's it," insisted Harrington.

"I'll just play my own game for the next 36 holes. There's a lot of golf left in this tournament and maybe I'll go out a little more aggressive from now on. As I said, there's 36 holes left and whether I'm one-under, two-under or level par, it doesn't make a difference to my chances on the weekend."

Still, Harrington could rue a disappointing finish.

His problems arose off the tee, where his drive was so far right it crossed the Barry Burn and finished in the rough beside the 17th fairway. All he could do was lay up, playing back on to the 18th fairway. Then he gave himself a fighting chance of par by putting his third shot to 20 feet.

But he contrived to three-putt, missing the second putt from inside two feet, for a double-bogey.

And, when Harrington finished, one of his first actions was to inquire about how McIlroy, just two groups behind him, was faring.

"Rory's score yesterday was absolutely fantastic and I thought that he could keep going on and playing well. As I've said, he looks like the real deal," said Harrington.

Indeed, Miguel Angel Jimenez, who played the opening two rounds with McIlroy, was also impressed with his game.

"He's a very good player, only 18 and with all his life in front of him. He has a big future."

For McIlroy, yesterday's 76 for 144, two-over, guaranteed he survived easily into the weekend and that the silver medal was his. He is the first Irishman to claim that honour since Joe Carr accomplished the feat for a second time in 1958.

"I'm through to the weekend and I'm relieved about that, it was a bit of a struggle today and it is a great feeling to know that, no matter what happens, I'll be standing out on that last green on Sunday (for the presentation).

"Now, my aim for the weekend is to try and get a top-10 finish. I think I can go out there and, if I play well and hole a few putts, there is no reason why I can't achieve that and qualify for this championship again next year," said McIlroy, who is in line for a memorable July having already helped Ireland to victory in the European team championships earlier this month.

One of the more impressive facets of McIlroy's game yesterday was his ability to steady the ship when things got rocky midway through his round.

He was only one over for his round as he stood on the ninth tee, but his tee-shot there finished right of the fairway in heavy rough, and he ran up a double-bogey six.

That was followed by two bogeys in his next three holes. Now, he was in a fight for survival, a battle to make the cut.

To his credit, McIlroy's response was to knuckle down and complete the closing six holes in level par, featuring a birdie on the 14th and bogey on the 17th where he hit his approach into a greenside bunker.

"I've learned a lot from the first two days. I came into this and made the cut and proved that I can compete at this level. The silver medal was the goal, and that would be a great achievement," said McIlroy, who is now moving ever more quickly towards a career as a professional. That will come shortly after the Walker Cup in September.

For now, McIlroy, the amateur, will again rub shoulders with the great and good of golf at Carnoustie this weekend.

"I'm at the Open, and I'm here to enjoy it. And that's what I'm doing."