Australian Open golf 2025 day 2: Rory McIlroy produces late flurry to avoid missing cut
Rory McIlroy has saved the Victorian Government from an embarrassment worth millions after producing a late flurry to make the cut at the Australian Open.
A relieved Rory McIlroy made a late flurry of birdies to avoid the embarrassment of missing the Australian Open cut – also saving the blushes of the Victorian government – on a nerve-shredding day at Royal Melbourne.
The Masters champion had a barely believable air swing and kept his fans on tenterhooks for hours as he scraped into the weekend with three birdies on his final four holes.
RECAP THE SECOND ROUND’S MAIN TALKING POINTS BELOW
Having arrived in Melbourne on a multi-million dollar deal from Jacinta Allan’s government, McIlroy was outside the cut line with just an hour left during a gripping second round on Friday.
But spurred on by bumper crowds reminiscent of national championships of yesteryear, McIlroy birdied the 15th, swiped his ball from near a tree branch on his extraordinary second shot to set up a birdie on the 17th, and then rolled in another on the 18th to finally get himself into the championship.
Asked if his main emotion was relief, McIlroy said: “Absolutely. I think it would have been a big downer for everyone involved if I wasn’t here for the weekend.
“I needed to play those last four holes the way I did. I certainly haven’t had my best stuff, but I turned it on when I needed to.”
McIlroy eventually signed for a three-under 68 to be two-under for the tournament, seven shots from the leaders, Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Portugal’s Daniel Rodrigues.
It’s a long way to come back from, but who’s going to categorically say he can’t do it?
McIlroy’s late revival ended an uncomfortable afternoon for tournament organisers, who watched the five-time major winner again look baffled with the sandbelt’s slippery greens for much of the day.
Hole 14: Misses the ball and makes bogey on a par five 😡
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 5, 2025
Hole 15: Nearly drives the green and becomes only the eighth player to birdie the 15th 🔥
McIlroy now sits within the cut line 💪#AusOpenGolfpic.twitter.com/nX2bZMMjr8
The tournament’s bizarre moment came when he awkwardly crouched and tried to bunt a ball from under a tree on the par-five 14th, only to whiff at it.
Golf rules deem any attempt to hit a ball – even if contact is not made – is counted towards a score.
“Not one of my finer moments on 14,” McIlroy joked. “I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh air (swing). I was trying to get in really low sort of like Seve (Ballesteros), flick it back into play, and I caught a branch on the way down and completely missed the ball.”
And with the pressure well and truly on, McIlroy took an uncomfortable driver on the short-par four next and put himself in prime position for birdie to be level with the cutline. He made sure of it when he picked up shots on the final two holes.
Despite McIlroy’s supporters breathing a huge sigh of relief, he still has a mountain to climb for a second Stonehaven Cup given the margin from the pacesetters.
He’s agreed to return to Melbourne next year for the Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
Playing partners Min Woo Lee (-8), who had a bogey-free 65, and Adam Scott (-7) have far better weekend prospects after outplaying McIlroy in the opening 36 holes.
"OH MY GOODNESS" 🗣ï¸
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 5, 2025
Rory McIlroy sets up eagle from behind the trees 🤯#AusOpenGolfpic.twitter.com/5CCwL1Kpav
The trio were shadowed by massive crowds on Friday, with supporters five deep all the way down the first fairway before their lunchtime tee off.
It barely stopped for the next five hours as the grand slam winner played his part in reviving a tournament which has struggled for years.
“That scene on the first tee was amazing,” McIlroy said. “Then walking up the last and everyone is still here.
“I’ve always said it, but that’s the potential this country has to have these really, really big events. The other two events happening in other places of the world have nothing like the atmosphere this tournament has.”
Originally published as Australian Open golf 2025 day 2: Rory McIlroy produces late flurry to avoid missing cut
