Rory McIlroy’s Strong Performance at the Australian Open
Rory McIlroy, a golfer from Down, has continued to add to his impressive collection of tournament winnings this year. His performance at the Australian Open showcased his consistent form and determination. Despite not securing the top spot, McIlroy finished in a tie for 14th place, demonstrating his ability to compete at a high level.
In the final round, McIlroy managed to shoot a 69, finishing the tournament with a score of seven-under par. This placed him eight shots behind the winner, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. Although he didn’t claim the title, McIlroy still took home a cheque of €16,375, which marked his lowest payout of the year so far.
The winner, Neergaard-Petersen, received a substantial reward of €193,259 along with the championship title. Prior to this event, McIlroy’s smallest cheque from a tournament this year was €30,617, which he earned for a tied-26th finish at the Indian Open.
This year has been nothing short of exceptional for McIlroy. His season earnings have surpassed €30 million in 2025, marking what is undoubtedly the best year of his career. He claimed victories in several prestigious tournaments, including The Masters, the Irish Open, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and The Players Championship. These wins not only boosted his earnings but also solidified his position as one of the top golfers in the world.
While the Australian Open might have been a less lucrative event for McIlroy, it was an opportunity to wrap up his season on a positive note. However, the tournament was not without its challenges. On Saturday, McIlroy faced an unusual obstacle that affected his performance.
During the second hole, McIlroy encountered a “banana skin,” which led to a double-bogey. His ball landed in a banana peel in the rough, and due to the rules of the game, he was unable to remove the banana skin without incurring a penalty. McIlroy later reflected on the incident, stating:
“‘It was sort of a double whammy – it was in the tough grass, and under a banana skin. But I shouldn’t have been there in the first place.’”
This unexpected challenge impacted his overall performance, but it did not deter his enthusiasm for the tournament.
After the event concluded on Sunday, McIlroy expressed his desire for the Australian Open to be rescheduled in the future. He believes that such a move could attract a stronger international field and enhance the tournament’s appeal.
“I’ve been excited to come back down here for a while; it’s been over 10 years since I played in the Australian Open. This is a golf tournament that has got so much potential and I think it showed a little bit of that this week. There’s still a ways to go.”
McIlroy acknowledged the difficulty of scheduling events, noting that there are three tournaments happening simultaneously this week. He emphasized the need for discussions among higher authorities to find a suitable date for the Australian Open, ensuring that more players can participate.
“I would love to have a few more players come down and play. But it’s hard. There’s three tournaments going on in the schedule this week. There need to be conversations had with people much more important than me that set the schedules, and hopefully the Australian Open can find a date that accommodates everyone and everyone can at least have the option to come down.”