Rory McIlroy pulls off something at the Australian Open he hasn’t managed in years

For most amateurs, swinging and missing the ball entirely is a common part of the game. But at the professional level, it is a rare sight.

McIlroy found himself in trouble under the trees on the 14th hole and ended up whiffing completely. He later said that his tee shot on the next hole was key to holding his round together.

The Northern Irishman said: “I needed to play those last four holes the way I did. That was not one of my finer moments on 14. I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh air [swing]. I was trying to get in really low sort of like Seve [Ballesteros], flick it back into play, and I caught a branch on the way down and completely missed the ball.”

He added: “The drive on 15 was a big shot because it could have been a turning point one way or another.

“If I don’t hit that tee shot well, I’m looking at another bogey. I gave myself an easy enough birdie and I played the last few holes pretty well.”

Rory McIlroy knows he needs a flawless finish to challenge in Australia

With a seven-shot deficit, it is hard to see McIlroy getting himself into the mix at the top of the leaderboard, but there are still plenty of storylines for local fans to follow.

Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Cam Smith and Ryan Fox are all in contention, which keeps plenty of local interest alive.

However, having McIlroy as part of that group would certainly add another layer to the weekend.

If he wants to close that gap over just two rounds, he will need a clean performance without any more costly mistakes like Friday’s mis-hit. Only his very best will be enough from here on out.

But we have seen him put together big rounds before. Do not be surprised if he finds his way back into the conversation by Saturday afternoon.