MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rory McIlroy had a self-described “rollercoaster” of a round Thursday at the Australian Open.
He wasn’t exaggerating.
McIlroy, whose pre-tournament news conference included comments that Royal Melbourne was not the best sandbelt course in the city, had a wild round of six bogeys and five birdies around the composite course and shot a 1-over 72 to trail the leaders by seven strokes after the first round.
A case of the famed sandbelt course, which has hosted three Presidents Cup tournaments, biting back? The swirling winds — including gusts of up to 60 kilometers an hour (38 mph) — were certainly a factor.
“It was a rollercoaster day,” McIlroy said. “Every time I got a birdie or two I got a bogey or two. It wasn’t terrible. I hit it in a couple of bad spots and had a couple of three-putts as well. I limited the damage. I hope the conditions are better tomorrow.”
For the record, the course McIlroy said was the best in Melbourne — nearby Kingston Heath — will host the Presidents Cup team event in 2028.
McIlroy, the Race to Dubai winner, is making his first appearance at the Australian Open since 2015 — he won it in 2013. He started off his round on the back nine with a birdie on the 10th hole followed by two bogeys.
That was just the start of his topsy-turvy round.
His sixth bogey of the day came at the 135-meter (148-yard) par-3 seventh hole, his 16th, but at least he was in good company. His playing partners — Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee — also had 4s.
Scott and Lee each shot 69 to trail by four strokes. The trio teed off at 7 a.m. and had thousands of fans following them.
“It was amazing, I couldn’t believe how many people were there,” McIlroy said of his early-morning entourage. “There are events in golf that means a little bit more. I think people in Australia take so much pride in this event.”
Scott felt the same.
“I mean, playing with Rory and Min and fighting to get to the 10th tee this morning with the crowds was good fun,” Scott said. “But the course held up well even in some of the most challenging wind I’ve probably ever played out here. Testament to the course and it’s great for the tournament.”
Elvis Smylie, the left-handed Australian who won last year’s Australian PGA tournament, New Zealander Ryan Fox and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, who eagled his second-last hole, the 17th, led by two strokes after the first round with 65s.
Cameron Smith, trying to avoid missing his eighth consecutive cut, bogeyed two of his final three holes and had a 70.
“I feel like I did pretty good today . . . made all the putts I was supposed to make and I probably left a couple out there, but it is what it is,” Smith said.
Smylie took advantage of a fortuitous bounce when he hit a spectator.
Playing on the par-four 1st hole — his 10th — Smylie’s wayward shot over the green hit a spectator before rolling back into position for him to make birdie.
“The wind was whipping off the left and I just kind of didn’t cut it up enough and I think it hit his foot,” said Smylie. “I don’t think it hit him hard fortunately, and then it ricocheted to about five foot and I was able to roll that in.
“So I think when things like that happen, you just know that the golf gods are on your side for the day.”
David Puig, who won last week’s Australian PGA at Royal Queensland in Brisbane, shot 74.
The winner of the Australian Open, which is the second event on the European tour’s new schedule of tournaments for late this year and 2026, receives a Masters exemption next year. And the top three finishers not already exempt will qualify for the British Open in 2026 at Royal Birkdale.
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