Rory McIlroy’s Roller Coaster Start at Australian Open while Ryan Fox Leads in Windy Royal Melbourne

Rory McIlroy faced a challenging start at the Crown Australian Open, describing his round as a “roller coaster.” McIlroy ended the opening round seven strokes behind the leader, managing a score of one-over 72 at Royal Melbourne Golf Course. This marked his first appearance since winning the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai for a remarkable seventh time.

McIlroy’s Round Highlights

His round included five birdies and six bogeys, all while playing in windy conditions with gusts nearing 40 miles per hour. McIlroy began impressively with a birdie on the first hole, but quickly followed with back-to-back bogeys.

Key Moments

• McIlroy dropped a shot at the par-three 16th hole.
• His second nine began with a bogey, forcing him to battle against the wind.
• He managed successive birdies, only to lose momentum with dropped shots at the fourth and seventh holes.

After his round, McIlroy expressed frustration but noted, “I limited the damage, but I hope the conditions are better tomorrow.”

Leading the Tournament

Elvis Smylie, last year’s Australian PGA Championship winner, was a standout performer, shooting an impressive opening-round 65. He was soon joined at the top by Carlos Ortiz and Ryan Fox, each also finishing with scores of six-under-par.

Other Notable Performances

• Ortiz made five birdies on the front nine and eagle on the last hole.
• Fox showcased a solid performance with eight birdies despite two bogeys.
• Scotland’s Cameron Adam is in fourth place, just two strokes off the lead, alongside Clement Charmasson from France and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.

Eddie Pepperell is sitting three strokes back with a score of 68. Meanwhile, Australian star Cameron Smith had a one-under 70, bogeying two of his last three holes.

Tournament Implications

The winner of the Australian Open, which is the second event of the DP World Tour season, will receive an exemption for the Masters Tournament next year. Additionally, the top three who are not already exempt will qualify for The Open.

The excitement continues as the Crown Australian Open progresses, with live coverage available throughout the week on Emegypt. Viewers can tune in to enhance their experience of this prestigious event.