Rory McIlroy secured his place for the weekend at the Australian Open after carding a three-under 68 on Friday to finish inside the 36-hole cut line at Royal Melbourne.

McIlroy, two under after two rounds, trailed leaders Daniel Rodriques (64) and Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (66) by seven shots.

The pair, on nine under, held a one-stroke advantage over Min Woo Lee, who fired a 65, while fellow Australians Adam Scott (66) and Cameron Smith (65) shared fourth. Smith, notably, avoided extending his run of seven straight missed cuts.

McIlroy began the day at one-over following a 72 on Thursday, tied for 57th and just a shot inside the projected cut of two over.

He opened Friday with one birdie and eight pars on his front nine, then added four more pars before stumbling with a bogey at the pa

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