McIlroy Battles Tough Winds in a Wild Australian Open Start
So, the opening round of the Australian Open has definitely delivered some drama, and a lot of that centered around Rory McIlroy. His day at Royal Melbourne turned into what he himself called a “rollercoaster,” and honestly, that feels like the perfect word for it. McIlroy finished with a one-over 72 — not disastrous, but certainly not the smooth start he was hoping for.
The Masters champion, who last won this tournament back in 2013, had a round packed with movement in every direction. Five birdies were mixed with six bogeys, and most of those mistakes came from being caught out by the strong, unpredictable winds swirling across the course. At times, it looked like he was starting to build momentum, only for the wind to punish even slight misjudgments. As he put it, “Every time I made a birdie or two, I made a bogey or two.” That back-and-forth rhythm essentially defined his entire round.
His playing partners, Australia’s Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, managed the conditions a bit better and wrapped up their rounds at two under. But it was Elvis Smylie of Australia, Ryan Fox of New Zealand, and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico who surged to the top of the leaderboard at six under. They handled the tricky conditions with impressive calm and precision.
Also Read:Another standout was 22-year-old Scot Cameron Adam, playing in only his second professional event. After missing the cut at last month’s Australian PGA Championship, he returned with real intent today. He recorded three birdies on the front nine and two more on the back before giving one shot back on the par-three 16th. Still, a four-under 67 has put him just two shots behind the leaders — a huge early highlight for the young pro.
As for McIlroy, his day actually started brightly with a birdie on the 10th, but bogeys on the next two holes quickly set the tone for the on-again, off-again rhythm that followed. He admitted he was “caught out a couple of times” by the crosswinds, but despite the frustrations, he’s clearly enjoying being back at the Australian Open for the first time in nearly a decade. He was especially struck by the size of the crowd for their 7 a.m. tee time, saying it shows how much this championship means to Australian fans.
Looking ahead, McIlroy is hoping calmer conditions will give him a chance to settle and start climbing the board. And with the support he’s getting — plus the high energy of playing alongside Scott and Lee — he’s heading into the next round with optimism.
Elsewhere in the field, two-time Australian amateur champion Jeff Guan, who is permanently blind in his left eye, battled to a four-over 75 and sits tied for 117th. His presence alone continues to be a remarkable story in its own right.
Plenty of golf remains, but Day 1 has already delivered a mix of drama, resilience, and standout performances — exactly what you hope for at the Australian Open.
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