The Open 2013: Rory McIlroy says after shocking round of 79 - 'I'm walking around there and I'm unconscious'

World number two 13 shots off the lead

Rory McIlroy pops out of the bunker during practice (EPA)

After his first round at The Open, Rory McIlroy is already facing a battle to make the cut.

The world number two endured a disastrous day which saw him card a 79 - 13 shots off the lead of five-under.

McIlroy - who yesterday told Nick Faldo he did not need his help after the six-time major winner publicly offered some advice - labelled himself "brain dead" for some of his shot selections in going for pins which were not really achievable.

"Sometimes I feel like I am nearly walking around there and I'm unconscious," he said.

"I can't really fathom it at the moment, it is hard to tell you what's going wrong."

It was so bad at one point the 24-year-old putted that far past the flag on the 15th the ball travelled the full length of the green and ended up in a bunker, from where he made double-bogey.

He managed just two birdies, both at par threes, and despite claiming he had found a new Nike driver he felt worked for him he hit just 35 per cent of fairways - well below the 61 per cent average for the rest of the field.

McIlroy's form has been wayward all year, with questions asked about how he has adapted to the equipment of new sponsors Nike.