Rory McIlroy derailed by litter at Australian Open in rogue banana peel incident

Rory McIlroy’s third round at the Australian Open was bizarrely affected by a banana peel.

The Masters champion is nine shots adrift of leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at Royal Melbourne heading into the final round.

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A third-round 68 could have been even better if not for a rogue bit of litter on the course Down Under.

McIlroy found the thick rough with a loose drive at the par-four second hole, but it was not the long grass that caused him the most trouble.

His ball came to rest under a banana peel – which was likely left there by a spectator who should have used a bin.

Golfers are allowed to remove loose impediments but not if doing so causes the ball to move.

With the banana peel touching McIlroy’s ball, the Northern Irishman was unable to shift it without incurring a one-stroke penalty.

Instead, the world no.2 decided to play the lie, advancing his ball a small number of yards before ultimately making a double-bogey six.

Speaking after his round, McIlroy said: “It was sort of a double whammy – it was in the tough grass, and under a banana skin…

“It’s a loose impediment and it was resting on the ball so, if I moved the banana peel, the ball would have moved so I just didn’t even try.

“I mean, I shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but yeah, it wasn’t the best start.”

Rory’s bucket list

Since finally completing the career grand slam at Augusta National in April, McIlroy has turned his attention towards becoming a truly global player.

The 36-year-old signed up for this year’s Australian Open in a bid to add more prestigious titles to his legacy.

Before the tournament began, the five-time major winner said: “I’ve talked about trying to win at some of the most important venues in golf and this week is one of them.

“You think about the [Australian Opens] people have won at Royal Melbourne and how highly regarded it is…

“The quality of the golf down here, the players from here and how excited [the fans are]; it just feels like this country is starved of top level golf.”