Rory McIlroy says he "exceeded expectations" on his return to the course this week at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The 27-year-old can return to the top of the golf world rankings this weekend with a win in Mexico and if current world number one Dustin Johnson finishes in a tie for fourth or worse.
McIlroy currently leads by two shots heading into the weekend and says he was happy with his overall game.
"I played pretty solid," he said. "I hit the ball where I was looking for the most part and my wedge play was pretty good, so was my play with the short irons. If you can do that around here you're going to score.
"I'm a little disappointed with the couple of misses coming in but that can happen late in the day on these greens. It was just a couple of misreads I think. I felt like I made some good strokes on those last few holes. These things happen, I'm still two ahead going into the weekend. I'm in a good spot."
McIlroy has been sidelined for the majority of the year thus far as he continues to recover from a rib injury and feels he has seen improvements in his game.
"I definitely made a few more committed swings and I felt like I had a bit more energy. I had a bit more of a pep in my step. It wasn't a case of me just getting through the round today, it was more to do with building on a score if I already had. It's nice to feel like that again."
Asked whether he had matched the targets he had set for himself, he said: "I've definitely exceeded expectations. I didn't come here with low expectations , but I didn't know what to expect. It's my first competitive week back after seven weeks with injury.
"I've gotten through two days, I'm in a pretty good spot, so let's hope the next two days go just as well."
Rory McIlroy lines up a putt during his second round in Mexico. Image: Eduardo Verdugo / AP/Press Association Images
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