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.

Rory McIlroy grabbed three birdies in his last four holes to make the cut at the Australian Open on Friday, while Portugal's Daniel Rodrigues and Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen set the pace at Royal Melbourne on nine-under par.

The 2025 Australian Open is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. The event is headlined by the arrival of this year's Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who returns to Australia for the first time since 2014 in a landmark moment for the tournament co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour.

No one wants to jinx it, but one of Australia’s superstar male golfers could break a painstaking national drought on Sunday. With one round to play in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne, Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott are all in the mix to win the trophy, while Lucas Herbert is a longer shot but cannot be counted out.

Rory McIlroy hits birdies on three of the last four holes as he shoots a three-under 68 to make the cut at the Australian Open, where he sits seven behind the leading pair; watch live on Saturday from 2.

Dave Tindall picks three to follow to sit top of the leaderboard at the Australian Open at prices from 40/1 to 70/1

Scores from the European Tour-Crown Australian Open 2025 Crown Australian Open on Friday -14 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark) 67 66 66 -12 Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) 65 70 66 Cameron Smith (Australia) 7

The Minnesota Twins finished in a disappointing fourth place in the American League Central this past season, but they at least earned some bragging rights in the offseason.

Golfers Cameron Smith and Adam Scott believe the Australian Open has regained its status as a prestigious tournament after returning to its traditional format without playing it concurrently with the Women's Australian Open.