Rory McIlroy is nine shots behind leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen going into the final round of the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
McIlroy, who won the event in 2013, shot a three-under-par 68 in the third round, putting him at five-under overall and tied for 24th place.
He had hoped to build on his strong finish from round two, where he made three birdies in his last four holes. But an unusual double-bogey on the second hole slowed him down his ball was stuck in thick grass right beside a banana skin, and he couldn’t move it.
After that rough start, McIlroy made two birdies, four pars, and one bogey on the front nine. He improved on the back nine by adding four more birdies.
Neergaard-Petersen shot a 66 to reach 14-under and take a two-shot lead. Australia’s Cameron Smith also scored a 66 and is tied for second with Si-Woo Kim and Carlos Ortiz at 12-under.
McIlroy admitted the mistake on the second hole was frustrating but said he played well from that point onward. Still, he believes he is too far behind to seriously compete for the title on Sunday.
Scotland’s Cameron Adam and David Young are both at four-under and tied for 29th.
