Overview
- Elvis Smylie, Ryan Fox and Carlos Ortiz share the first‑round lead at six under par after matching 65s.
- Strong northerly gusts approaching 60 km/h and firming greens produced volatile scoring throughout the opening day.
- Rory McIlroy called his round a "rollercoaster" after five birdies and six bogeys, saying he needs to putt better to contend.
- Thousands queued before dawn and weekend tickets sold out as McIlroy’s first Australian Open start since 2015 drove surging interest.
- Before teeing off, McIlroy said Royal Melbourne is probably not the best course in the city, praised Kingston Heath, and argued the Open merits a standalone slot on the global schedule; the event is co‑sanctioned by the DP World Tour and grants the winner a 2026 Masters exemption.