Rory McIlroy Eyes Comeback at Crown Australian Open

Rory McIlroy sits seven shots off the lead following a second-round performance of two-under 68 at the Crown Australian Open in Melbourne. After an opening round of 72, McIlroy improved his standing, bringing his overall score to two-under par. Portugal’s Daniel Rodriguez leads the tournament with an impressive seven-under total after carding a remarkable round of 64.

McIlroy’s late surge included three birdies in the last hour of play, with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, ensuring he remained above the cut line. His front nine showed consistency, highlighted by a birdie on the fifth hole. However, he encountered a setback with his only bogey of the day on the 14th hole before finishing strong.

Reflecting on a moment of misfortune, McIlroy laughed off an air-shot he made while attempting to play from the bushes. “It felt like I could get in there really low like Seve Ballesteros used to, flick a little four iron and get it back into play,” he explained. “On the way down, I caught a branch, and obviously just completely went over the ball. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had a fresh air! Not one of my finer moments, but it was nice to bounce back after that and play like I did the last few holes.”

Despite a challenging couple of days, McIlroy expressed optimism about the weekend ahead. “Seven isn’t too far back. I feel like if I can go out tomorrow morning and shoot a good one, I can get myself right back in the tournament,” he stated.

As the tournament progresses, McIlroy’s determination will be key as he aims to claw back the deficit and contend for the title. The Crown Australian Open continues to showcase top-tier talent, and McIlroy remains a player to watch as he seeks to make his mark in the final rounds.