McIlroy nine shots off pace after banana mishap

Australian Open – third-round leaderboard

-14 R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 SW Woo (Kor), C Ortiz (Mex), C Smith (Aus); -11 J Ballester (Spa); -10 D Hillier (Aus), MW Lee (Aus), A Scott (Aus); -9 W Ding (Chi); -8 L Herbert (Aus), C Surratt (USA)

Rory McIlroy is nine shots behind leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen ahead of the final day of the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

The Masters champion, who won this tournament in 2013, shot a three-under 68 in the third round and is now five-under par in joint 24th.

McIlroy was hoping to build on a strong finish to the second round when he made three birdies in his last four holes.

However, a bizarre double-bogey on the second hole hindered his start after the world number two was unable to move a banana skin beside his ball.

The 36-year-old then added two birdies, four pars and a bogey on the front nine.

From the 10th hole, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy registered four birdies.

Denmark’s Neergaard-Petersen carded a 66 to move 14-under and two shots clear.

Australia’s Cameron Smith also shot 66 and sits joint second with Si-Woo Kim and Carlos Ortiz on 12-under.

“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” McIlroy said when asked about the second hole.

“I didn’t get off to a great start, but I played well from there.

“I am probably going to be too far behind to challenge tomorrow.”