McIlroy Battles Rain, Chaos, and Pressure at the Australian Open
So, the story around Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Australian Open has turned into one of those classic “only in golf” weekends — the kind where weather, luck, and a stray banana peel all get involved. And somehow, despite all of that, McIlroy is still right in the mix heading into the final day at Royal Melbourne.
Things didn’t start smoothly for him in the third round. An early stumble — literally — had him dealing with a patch of long grass hiding a banana skin, which led to a double bogey and a laugh afterward. He admitted it wasn’t his finest tee shot and joked that the whole moment was a “double-whammy.” But what really stood out was how quickly he settled himself. His front nine has been the tougher stretch for him all week, and he acknowledged that it’s where he needs to find more birdies. Still, he kept grinding, and once again his back nine was where life returned to his round. Two closing birdies helped him finish at five-under total, putting him inside the top 20 for now.
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From the way he spoke after the round, you can tell he isn’t discouraged. He knows he’s likely too far back to control the leaderboard on Sunday, but he absolutely believes there’s a low score out there — if the rain stops. He’s hoping for firmer conditions, something that would reward precision and allow him to attack more pins. In his words, if the course dries out, he believes he can shoot something “eight or nine under.” And honestly, with the way he’s been finishing his rounds, that doesn’t sound unrealistic.
His week so far has been a rollercoaster. Day two featured the now-viral “air swing” moment and a bogey at the 14th, only for him to steady himself with three birdies in his last four holes to make the cut. He admitted he hasn’t had his best stuff over the first two days, but he’s pleased with how he’s finishing strong. That confidence carried into day three as he climbed back up the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, the tournament around him is electric. Leaders like Jose Luis Ballester, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and players such as Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert have been trading punches shot by shot. Heavy rain has made conditions unpredictable, but McIlroy’s experience is showing — he’s adapting, surviving, and waiting for his moment.
Now, heading into Sunday, he’s still several shots behind, but he’s close enough that one blazing round could change everything. Fans in Melbourne will be getting exactly what they hoped for — a final day with Rory McIlroy chasing the leaders, momentum behind him, and something to prove.
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