Rory McIlroy has applied the blow torch to Adam Scott, seizing the clubhouse lead after an action-packed start to the second round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.
McIlroy collected 10 birdies in a seven-under-par 65 to surge to 10-under for the championship, while veteran left-hander Richard Green also vaulted into contention with a spectacular hole-in-one.
Playing under threatening dark clouds, McIlroy was enjoying the best of the scoring conditions before rain and wind threatened to test Scott and the rest of the afternoon starters.
Starting on the back nine on Friday, the one-time world No.1 and dual major champion rattled off birdies at the 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes to turn in four-under after just one slip-up on the 17th.
McIlroy then tapped in for another birdie after almost driving the short par-4 first hole to keep the momentum going on his back nine.
Further birdies on the second, sixth and seventh holes briefly had McIlroy sharing the lead before Scott teed off.
“I felt good out there this morning,” McIlroy said.
“I think we got a bit lucky. The weather wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be and the wind didn’t pick up.
“So I knew we could sort of take advantage of that, and the greens were a little bit softer as well.
“It feels good. I played well, I putted much better than I did yesterday, which was a big positive, and I’m in a great position going into the weekend.”
Green was also on fire, notching six birdies and an eagle with a brilliant eight iron into the 143-metre sixth hole.
Green’s second-round 66 propelled him to nine-under, just one behind clubhouse leader McIlroy.
“I haven’t hit shots like I have the last two days for about the last three years. It’s been a long time,” Green said.
“The confidence is building and fortunately that shot on the par-3 sixth today was just a flush golf shot.”
Matt Jones was also safely in the clubhouse in a strong position, sharing fourth at eight-under after a tidy 68, while 15-year-old Ryan Ruffels fought back doggedly to almost certainly make the halfway cut.
After slipping to eight-over during his opening round on Thursday, Ruffels is at even par after a second-round 67.
Scott teed off just after midday (AEDT) and quickly regained the outright lead with two birdies in his first three holes to advance to 12-under.
South Australian left-hander Nic Cullen, who fired a one-over 73 on Thursday, had to withdraw before the start of the second round after spending the night in hospital with appendicitis.