On a dramatic second day of the Australian Open, human spotlight reel Min Woo Lee energized Royal Melbourne to inside one step of taking the lead as famous person companion Rory McIlroy threatened to overlook half-time.
The standout second in Lee’s second spherical was when he hit a long-range strategy shot for eagle on the par-4 tenth gap and hoisted his arms in triumph as he holed out.
After 4 holes, McIlroy suffered a uncommon mid-air swing when his tee shot landed beneath a good tree, however he endured the low level.
The Northern Irishman escaped with a one-putt bogey on the second best gap on the course, briefly falling under the minimize line.
“To be sincere, I am unable to keep in mind the final time I took a contemporary air shot,” McIlroy mentioned.
“Not one in every of my finest moments.”
Nevertheless, McIlroy birdied three of the ultimate 4 holes and completed with a top-class outcome, ending with a three-stroke lead at two beneath par and a 3-under 68.
Lee made 4 birdies till he holed out for eagle and shot an ideal 6-under 65, transferring him into third place at 8 beneath, one stroke behind Denmark’s Rasmus Niergaard Petersen (66), who had the bottom spherical of the day with a 64, and Portugal’s Daniel Rodriguez.
Most of Australia’s large names are within the thick of issues for this weekend’s video games, led by Lee.
Former Masters champion Adam Scott (66) made a clutch par putt on the 18th to maneuver right into a tie for fourth place with compatriot Cameron Smith (65) and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz at 7 beneath.
After lacking out on a string of {qualifications} in 2025, together with all 4 majors, Smith had his finest days in a tough yr.
The 2022 British Open champion capped off an important day with a curling birdie putt on the 18th as he jumped into competition for his first Australian Open title.
Denmark’s rising star Nirgaard Pietersen caught to a sandbelt mindset as he took the lead.
Nirgaard Petersen, who simply accomplished a profitable full yr on the DP World Tour, took 4 pictures in three holes and added two birdies for a 66 early in Friday’s second spherical.
“It makes a distinction, actually understanding what to anticipate,” mentioned the Dane, who performed a number of rounds lately at close by Peninsula Kingswood with shut pal and DP World Tour colleague David Micheluzzi.
“The eagle I made right now was a type of pictures you’ll by no means usually contemplate.
“I had a 6-iron and it is touchdown 5 steps wanting the inexperienced. However that is a part of the shot it’s important to hit right here.”
“I’m beginning to get right into a sand-belt form of mindset, and I believe that’s undoubtedly helped.”
