But the four-time major winner was quick to focus on the positives of two unexpected days off in the midst of a five-week run of events, which has already produced two wins and ends with next week’s Irish Open at Royal County Down.

“I’m not going to read too much into it,” McIlroy said after his worst score since also shooting 78 in the second round of the Scottish Open last July, which was one of a string of bad Friday performances ended in style during the following week’s Open Championship.

“It was inevitable at some point that the run was going to come to a bit of an end. I’m sort of back to my usual at Wentworth. It wasn’t great before I won last year and it hasn’t been great after.

“Any time you’re defending a title you want to come back and give it a valiant effort. This week wasn’t really that. I’m not angry. A little disappointed I’m not going to be here for the weekend, but if there was any weekend to miss, coming off the back of three good weeks in the States.... I’m probably in need of a little bit of a rest.

“If anything good comes out of this, it’s just that I get a couple of days over the weekend to refresh mentally.”

Molinari, who has recorded three consecutive top-10 finishes at Wentworth, took a one-shot lead into Saturday’s third round after adding a 69 to his opening 65, with Korea’s Byeong Hun An his nearest challenger after completing a flawless 64 shortly before 8pm on Friday.

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee were two shots off the lead on eight under, with England’s James Morrison, winner of the Spanish Open on Sunday, another shot back after a 66.