McIlroy cut in Australian Open chaos
Rory McIlroy missed the cut as scorching conditions caused chaos in the Australian Open.
The Holywood teen, 16, fell victim to high winds and lightning fast greens at Moonah Links near Melbourne.
A second round 79 saw him miss out by three strokes - but he wasn’t the only victim on a day of controversy.
Robert Allenby fired a level par 72 to open up a four-shot lead over Adam Scott on nine under par.
But there was consternation over the slick greens that saw Peter O’Malley threaten to walk off the course and Stephen Leaney disqualified.
Tournament officials had to water the greens after complaints that the dry conditions and strong winds were making them too fast and virtually unplayable.
The situation came to a head at the par four 12th, where O'Malley's ball landed above the hole and he came up short with his first putt.
His second lipped out then rolled on. He marked it and the ball, moved by the wind, rolled on. After this happened for a second time, O'Malley said he was thinking about walking off.
A rules official was called and he was told to play the ball, now off the green but finished with a triple bogey seven.
Playing partner Leaney was still distracted by the incident at the end of his round and forgot to sign his card.
He said: “I was upset at what had happened to Peter O'Malley and just didn't realise I hadn't signed it.
“We were also annoyed that they decided to water the green after we went through, they really shouldn't change the course conditions after play has started.”
Allenby followed his course record 63 with a level par 72 and confessed: “It was very tough, pretty much from the start to the finish.”
But he had no problems after the 12th green was watered midway through the round.
He added: “That's all right, you get used to it. In the US it happens a lot. In US Opens it happens as well.
“This is our national title and the golf course should be set up as hard as possible.
"Maybe the flag should have been in the middle of the green or somewhere easier to get at with the wind.”
McIlroy began the day on one over par but carded just one birdie against nine bogeys to finish on eight over.
A par-birdie finish would have been enough to make the weekend action but he bogeyed the par-three 17th and par five-18th to miss out by three shots.