Rory McIlroy Trails Australian Open Leaders by Nine Strokes After Bizarre Melbourne Banana Peel Incident
Rory McIlroy experienced a peculiar incident during his third round at the Australian Open, where a banana peel obstructed his golf ball. On Saturday, McIlroy shot a three-under 68, yet he remains nine strokes behind the leader, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
Australian Open Update
Neergaard-Petersen finished the day with a five-under 66, bringing his tournament score to an impressive 14 under. Meanwhile, Cam Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, matched Neergaard-Petersen’s score, moving into a tie for second place, just two strokes off the lead.
McIlroy’s Bizarre Moment
On the par-four second hole, McIlroy’s shot went astray, landing in thick grass. His ball ended up under a discarded banana peel. According to golf regulations, players may move loose impediments unless doing so causes the ball to move, which would incur a penalty. Unfortunately for McIlroy, his attempt to hit the ball back onto the fairway was unsuccessful and resulted in a double-bogey six.
- McIlroy’s score on Saturday: 68
- Current position: Tied for 24th at five under
- Neergaard-Petersen’s score: 66, total 14 under
- Cam Smith’s score: 66, total 12 under
Round Performance
After the unusual setback, McIlroy managed to recover, making birdie on the next hole. He faced ups and downs during the front nine, finishing with a one-over 35. The back nine proved more fruitful as he recorded four birdies, mirroring his performance from Friday.
Looking Ahead
Following the round, McIlroy expressed his intent to challenge for a low score in his final round. “I’d love the course to keep getting firmer… I think I could shoot something very low,” he remarked. Despite his efforts, he acknowledged that his current position might be too far from the leaders for a serious challenge.
Additional Information
McIlroy has not played at the Australian Open since 2015, although he previously secured a victory in 2013. The tournament serves as the second event in the European Tour’s new schedule for late 2023 and 2026. The champion gains a Master’s exemption for the following year, while the top three finishers not previously exempt qualify for the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
As the tournament progresses, viewers can catch live coverage on Emegypt, continuing Saturday from 2.30 AM on Sky Sports Golf.
