Rory McIlroy got his bid for a first European Tour title back on track with a second-round 68 in the Madrid Open this afternoon, leaving him on three-under-par and six off the pace set by Spaniard Alejandro Canizares.

Despite playing in only his third event as a professional, McIlroy had set his sights on a maiden victory following his superb third place in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday.

The 18-year-old from Holywood, Co Down, could only manage a first-round 73 in blustery conditions at Club de Campo on the outskirts of Madrid yesterday, eight shots adrift of early pacesetter Daniel Vancsik of Argentina.

However, the former European amateur champion had not given up hope of forcing himself into contention if he could take advantage of more favourable conditions for the early starters, and after a slow start fired six birdies and two bogeys in his 68.

It took McIlroy 26 holes to register his first birdie of the tournament, hitting a six iron to 10ft on the 17th, his ninth hole of the day.

But he followed that with three more in row from two, 20 and three feet respectively and missed a good chance to make it five in a row when his attempt from three feet on the third caught the edge of the hole and refused to drop.

"I still missed a few chances out there but I'm happy with a 68 and I'm in for the weekend," said McIlroy, leading amateur in the Open championship at Carnoustie in July, who also birdied two of his last four holes after a bogey on the fourth.

"The greens were definitely not as spiked up this morning as they were yesterday afternoon and it was pretty much perfect conditions. I'm happy with where I am at the moment going into the final two rounds."

Canizares held a two-shot lead over Jean Van de Velde, who also recorded a 66 while playing alongside McIlroy and the Frenchman was full of praise for the youngster.

"He was very impressive," said Van de Velde, who only returned to action last month after falling ill in March. "He has got all the shots in the bag and he is not scared to play them.

"He is also a great character and a lovely young man. There's no doubt he can play the game; you don't finish third last week over those three golf courses without having something special."

Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie went in the opposite direction to McIlroy after starting the day on one under.

McGrane shot a 74 to finish one over, while Dubliner Lawrie went one worse and is not two-over-par.  Both look safe for the weekend, however, with projected cut at four over.

Graeme McDowell faces a more anxious wait after a 73 left him three-over-par.