Rory McIlroy finds himself in a challenging position at the Australian Open, trailing by nine shots as the tournament heads into its final day. Currently held at Royal Melbourne, the Masters champion and 2013 tournament winner has a lot to assert in his performance.
Current Standings at the Australian Open
As of now, McIlroy is in joint 24th place with a total score of five-under par after shooting a three-under 68 in the third round. He sits nine strokes behind the leader, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who has taken the lead with a score of 14-under after a strong 66 in the same round.
McIlroy’s Round Three Performance
- Third round score: 68
- Total score: 5-under par
- Current position: Joint 24th
McIlroy aimed to carry momentum from a strong finish in the second round, where he made three birdies in the last four holes. However, a double-bogey on the second hole disrupted his start, as he struggled to play his ball that rested next to a banana skin.
Leading Contenders
- Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark): 14-under par, leader
- Cameron Smith (Australia): 12-under par, joint second
- Si-Woo Kim (South Korea): 12-under par, joint second
- Carlos Ortiz (Mexico): 12-under par, joint second
In addition to Neergaard-Petersen’s impressive round, Cameron Smith also carded a 66 and is tied with Si-Woo Kim and Carlos Ortiz at 12-under par.
McIlroy’s Reflections
Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy expressed frustration about his rough start. He remarked, “It was sort of a double whammy – it was in the tough grass and under a banana skin.” Despite his struggles at the beginning, he noted, “I didn’t get off to a great start, but I played well from there.”
At 36 years old, McIlroy acknowledges that he might be too far behind to mount a serious challenge on the final day.
Other Noteworthy Players
In the tournament, Scotland’s Cameron Adam is gaining attention as he experiences his second professional outing. He currently stands at four-under par, tied for 29th place with fellow Scot David Young.
