McIlroy’s Australian Open Challenge Ruined by Banana Skin
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Rory McIlroy‘s Banana Peel Blunder at the 2013 Australian Open
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A bizarre incident involving a banana peel briefly derailed Rory McIlroy’s third round at the 2013 Australian Open, but the Northern Irishman recovered to remain in contention. rasmus Neergaard-Petersen ultimately took the lead.
Last updated: December 6, 2023, 10:38:30 AM PST
The Incident: A Peel and a Double Bogey
During the third round of the 2013 Australian Open,held at the prestigious royal Melbourne Golf Club,Rory McIlroy experienced an unusual setback on the second hole. His tee shot landed in the rough, and upon approaching his ball, he discovered it nestled beside a discarded banana peel. Golf Channel reported the incident quickly gained attention.
According to tournament rules, McIlroy was unable to remove the banana peel for fear of incurring a penalty for improving his lie. He could only manage to advance his second shot approximately 30 yards, ultimately leading to a double bogey. This dropped him back to even par for the tournament. ESPN detailed the frustration of the situation.
Have you ever seen this before?! 🤔
Rory McIlroy double bogeys the second hole after finding his ball next to a banana 🍌#AusOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/229POQPHct
A Twitter post from Golf Australia showing the incident with McIlroy’s ball and the banana peel.
McIlroy’s Recovery and Neergaard-petersen’s Lead
Despite the early setback, McIlroy demonstrated resilience, posting a second consecutive round of 68. This kept him within striking distance of the lead.Reuters reported on mcilroy’s strong recovery after the unusual start.
However, it was Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen who seized the lead with a five-under 66 on Saturday. He finished the day one stroke ahead of McIlroy and John Senden. The Sydney Morning Herald covered Neergaard-Petersen’s performance.
Tournament Results and Aftermath
Ultimately, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen secured