Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen made a late surge to card a five-under 66 and take the lead on day three at the Royal Melbourne on Saturday, while Rory McIlroy overcame an early error to grab two consecutive birdies and stay in the hunt at the Australian Open.

Rory McIlroy has made the weekend at the Australian Open after shooting a 3-under 68 to finish inside the 36-hole cut line.

The Northern Irishman's rollar-coaster finish in the second round of the Australian Open included a swing and a miss on a short and three late birdies to make the cut

A relieved Rory McIlroy made a late flurry of birdies to avoid the embarrassment of missing the Australian Open cut – also saving the blushes of the Victorian government – on a nerve-shredding day at Royal Melbourne.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when the television coverage of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane started cutting to famous faces in the crowd earlier this week and it honed in on Greg Norman.

U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun converted two of his three eagle chances to tie for the lead Friday in the Hero World Challenge.

The Minnesota Twins finished in a disappointing fourth place in the American League Central this past season, but they at least earned some bragging rights in the offseason.

Rather than playing in the Hero World Challenge, Rory McIlroy is taking part in the Australian Open for the first time since 2014 - and he suffered an embarrassing moment near the end of his round