Defending champion and world number one Rory McIlroy failed to card a par on his homeward nine yesterday at the Australian Open, but he’s only one shot off the halfway pace set by Greg Chalmers in Sydney.
McIlroy went out in one-over 36, but came home birdie, bogey, bogey, eagle, birdie, bogey, birdie, birdie for a three-under 33 – and a second 69.
What a fascinating card, setting up a battle royale over the weekend with 13 golfers within three shots.
Chalmers (five-under) is one of eight Australian Open champions who have made the cut.
Chalmers turned back the clock to his two wins in 1998 and 2011, McIlroy is the defending champion, while Robert Allenby won in 1994 and 2003, Adam Scott (2009), John Senden (2006), Geoff Ogilvy (2002) and Craig Parry was successful in 2007.
Two other former Australian Open champions have the weekend off – Peter Lonard won back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, while Peter Fowler, the senior of the group at 55, won in 1983.
The comeback of the day was Scott with the round of the day, a five-under 66.
He was out of sorts in the opening round, and needed something right out of the box to remain in contention.
He did just that, as did Allenby who has been out of sorts for far longer, despite being one of the best strikers of the ball in the field.
But in the second round he virtually overcame his putting yips to be in the mix for a third Australian Open. It was good to see him back.
Five amateurs have made the cut, led by Todd Sinnott at four-under, the 22-year-old Victorian who did so well in last week’s Masters.
South Australian Antonio Murdaca (one-over). Victorian 16-year-old Ryan Ruffles (three-over), with another Victorian Lucas Herbert and a Queenslander Taylor MacDonald, both at four-over par, smack on the cut, augurs well for the future of Australian golf.
The leaderboard reads:
Greg Chalmers – 5-under with 71 66
Rory McIlroy – 4-under – 69 69
Adam Crawford – 4-under – 69 69
Todd Sinnot – 4-under – 71 67
Conrad Shindler – 4-under – 70 68
Jordan Spieth – 3-under – 67 72
Geoff Drakeford – 3-under – 69 70
Brett Rumford – 3-under – 70 69
Robert Allenby – 2-under – 71 69
Rod Pampling – 2-under 73 67
Jake Higginbotham – 2-under 71 69
Adam Scott – 2-under – 74 66
Rhein Gibson – 2-under – 70 70
Richard Green – 69 71
I’ve left Rhein Gibson until last.
In May 2012, the 28-year-old Gibson fired in a 16-under 55 at the River Oaks Golf Club in Oaklahoma – a new world record low.
Gibson monstered the par 71 course of 6698 yards, with two eagles, and 12 birdies.
He went out in 10-under 26, and came home with six birdies in the last seven holes for 29 in his phenomenal 55.
It’s been reported Homero Blancas shot a 55 in the 1960s, but the reports are sketchy on the unnamed par 70 course of 5000 yards.
Irrespective of how Rhein Gibson goes at the Australian over the next two days, the 55 was still a phenomenal round.
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