Rory McIlroy Overcomes Unusual Challenge at Australian Open

Rory McIlroy faced an unusual obstacle during the third round of the Australian Open, where a banana peel lodged in a tree presented a quirky challenge. Despite this odd encounter, McIlroy managed to score a three-under par 68, leaving him nine strokes behind leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who recorded a 66 for a total of 14-under 199 after 54 holes.

On the second hole, McIlroy’s ball ended up under a small tree and beneath the banana peel, which had apparently been discarded by a spectator. Golf regulations permit players to move loose impediments, provided the ball does not shift in the process. Unfortunately for McIlroy, his attempts to strike the ball through the peel and branches resulted in only a modest advance of about 30 feet, leading to a double bogey six. Reflecting on the incident, McIlroy said, “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.”

After the rocky start, McIlroy rebounded with a birdie on the next hole. Following a bogey and another birdie, he finished the front nine with a one-over 35. The back nine, played under steady drizzle, saw McIlroy take advantage of improved conditions with four birdies, including two on the final holes, mirroring his performance from Friday, when he also shot a 68.

“I didn’t get off to a great start, but I played well from there,” McIlroy noted, acknowledging the challenge of catching up with the leaders. “I am probably going to be too far behind to challenge tomorrow. But I’d love the course to keep getting firmer and firmer… and if it does, I think I could go out there and shoot something very low, eight or nine under.”

Meanwhile, Cam Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, matched McIlroy with a score of 66. Smith, who ended a streak of seven consecutive missed cuts the previous day, expressed relief at being in contention, stating, “It’s been a while since I’ve had this feeling to be honest. I love that it’s the Australian Open. I couldn’t think of a better place to get back into form. It would shut a few people up.”

McIlroy, the Race to Dubai winner who completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in 2023, returned to the Australian Open for the first time since 2015, having previously won the tournament in 2013. His opening round included six bogeys and five birdies, demonstrating both the challenges and opportunities present at Royal Melbourne.

The Australian Open, part of the European Tour’s new schedule for late 2023 and 2026, offers significant incentives. The winner receives a Masters exemption for the following year, while the top three finishers not already exempt qualify for the British Open in 2026 at Royal Birkdale. As the tournament progresses, the unique challenges and the players’ responses will undoubtedly capture the attention of golf fans worldwide.