Rory McIlroy's third round at the Australian Open took an unusual turn on Saturday when his ball came to rest under a discarded banana peel, contributing to a costly double bogey. Despite the bizarre setback, the Northern Irish star carded a 3-under 68 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
An Unusual Hazard on the Course
On the par-4 second hole, McIlroy missed the fairway to the right. His ball settled under a small tree and, in a strange twist, beneath a banana peel apparently tossed by a spectator. Under golf's rules, players may move loose impediments provided their ball does not move, or they face a penalty. Unable to safely remove the peel, McIlroy attempted to play his shot through it and the branches.
The attempt was unsuccessful, advancing the ball only about 30 feet and leading to a double-bogey six. "It was sort of a double whammy — it was in the tough grass, and under a banana skin," McIlroy admitted after his round. "But I shouldn't have been there in the first place."
Leaderboard Tightens Behind Neergaard-Petersen
McIlroy's round of 68 left him at a 54-hole total of 5-under 208, nine strokes behind surprise leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark. Neergaard-Petersen sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 66 and a commanding total of 14-under 199.
Lurking just two shots back is local favourite Cam Smith. The 2022 British Open champion, who ended a streak of seven consecutive missed cuts on Friday, also fired a 66 on Saturday to sit tied for second at 12-under.
McIlroy Fights Back After Rocky Start
After the early double bogey, McIlroy showed resilience. He birdied the very next hole and, despite another bogey, managed a 1-over 35 on the front nine. Playing through steady drizzle on the back nine, he caught fire with four birdies, including on the final two holes as he did on Friday.
"I didn't get off to a great start, but I played well from there," said McIlroy, who made five birdies in his final ten holes. While acknowledging the large deficit, he hasn't given up hope. "I am probably going to be too far behind to challenge tomorrow," he stated. "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, 8 or 9 under."
The Australian Open is the second event on the European tour's new schedule for late 2025 and 2026. The winner secures an exemption into next year's Masters Tournament, while the top three finishers not otherwise exempt will qualify for the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
