Rory McIlroy Trails by Nine Shots at Australian Open After Masters Victory
Rory McIlroy is currently nine shots behind the leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at the Australian Open in Melbourne. After the third round, McIlroy sits joint 24th with a score of five-under par. The Masters champion had won this tournament in 2013 and aimed to build on his strong finish from the second round.
During the round, McIlroy experienced a challenging start. He faced a double-bogey on the second hole after his ball landed beside a banana peel. He managed to recover, registering two birdies, four pars, and a bogey on the front nine. On the back nine, McIlroy found some rhythm, scoring four birdies. However, Neergaard-Petersen maintained his momentum with the same number of birdies, bringing his score to 14-under and leading by two shots.
“It was sort of a double whammy – it was in the tough grass and under a banana skin, but I shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” stated McIlroy, reflecting on his unexpected setback. He acknowledged, “I didn’t get off to a great start, but I played well from there. I am probably going to be too far behind to challenge tomorrow.”
Other Notable Performers
In addition to McIlroy, Scotland’s Cameron Adam, competing in just his second professional tournament, is performing admirably. He stands at four-under par, tied for 29th place alongside fellow Scot David Young.
Key Statistics
| Player | Score | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | -14 | 1st |
| Rory McIlroy | -5 | 24th |
| Cameron Adam | -4 | 29th |
| David Young | -4 | 29th |
As the final day approaches, McIlroy’s road to victory appears steep. With nine shots separating him from the leader, fans will be watching to see if he can make a remarkable comeback.
