Rory McIlroy moved up to second place with a seven-under-par 65 at the Australian Open. McIlroy's round included nine birdies and a couple of bogeys which saw him move to 10-under, two behind home favourite Adam Scott at the midway point at the Royal Sydney Golf club. The overall leaderboard was also affected by Scott failing to seriously follow up his course-record 62 from day one. Despite local favourite Scott’s brilliant run of form this year, McIlroy’s status as a former world number one and twice major champion ensured his place as a major draw.
A lot has been made of McIlroy’s drop in form this year considering his 2012, mostly notably a change in clubs and various off-course distractions including a legal battle with his former management team Horizon Sports. With just one tournament left to play after this weekend, McIlroy is cutting it fine to fulfil world number one Tiger Woods’s prediction that he would win before the end of the year.
