MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Not before a bit of back-nine drama at Royal Melbourne, Rory McIlroy has made the weekend at the Australian Open after shooting a 3-under 68 on Friday to finish inside the 36-hole cut line.
McIlroy, who was 2-under on the tournament, was seven strokes behind leaders Daniel Rodriques (64) and Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson (66), who had 9-under totals of 133.
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Cam Smith of Australia plays an approach shot on the 18th Hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (centre) reacts after completing his round with Adam Scott of Australia (Left) and Min Woo Lee of Australia (Right) during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Adam Scott of Australia on the 9th Hole after completing his 1st round during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Ryan Fox of New Zealand reacts during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Elvis Smylie plays an approach shot on the ninth Hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy. of Northern Ireland, reacts after putting on the the 11th hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
The leading pair were one shot clear of third-place Min Woo Lee, who shot 65 Friday.
Adam Scott (66) was in a tie for fourth with Cameron Smith (65), who avoided adding to his tally of seven consecutive missed cuts. Scott and Lee were playing in the same featured threesome as McIlroy.
McIlroy started the day at 1-over after a 72 on Thursday, tied for 57th and trailing the leaders by seven shots. At the time, that was just one shot inside the expected cut of 2-over.
He birdied one hole and had eight pars on his front nine Friday, then had four more pars before making a bogey on the par-5 14th. He missed the fairway to the right off the tee and ended up under a tea tree. McIlroy then whiffed on his next shot as his club got stuck in a branch but he recovered to make a 6.
That put him outside the 36-hole cut, but he birdied the next hole, the par-3 15th, to put himself back at even-par and safe, at least, at that stage.
He parred the 16th to stay at even-par then perhaps made his shot of the tournament — from the patchy rough on 17, swinging through a small bush this time, where he tapped in for birdie after a long eagle putt went just wide.
That moved McIlroy to 1-under on the tournament and up about 20 places on the leaderboard, leaving him safe for the weekend, particularly after he birdied the 18th.
“With the wind, it played like a different golf course today,” McIlroy said. “I certainly haven't played my best over the past couple of days but it was nice to finish the way I did. Delighted to be here for the weekend . . . seven isn't too far back."
On his whiffed shot from under the trees, McIlory said: "Honestly I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh-air shot. Not one of my finer moments but nice to be able to come back over the last few holes.”
Co-leader Neergard-Peterson missed the cut last week at the Australian PGA Championship. at Royal Queensland in Brisbane.
“Certainly I feel like I’ve proved over the last year or so that I have the level to compete out here and be in the thick of things on Sunday,” Neergard-Petersen said.
The highlight of Australian Lee’s second round came when he holed out with a 9-iron from 176 meters for eagle on the par-4 10th, raising both arms and waving them in an airplane-style celebration.
“I know it was just random, but it just felt good,” Lee said. “It was a big crowd, so I was just doing random stuff.”
McIlroy, whose pre-tournament news conference included comments that Royal Melbourne was not the best sandbelt course in the city, had a wild opening round containing six bogeys and five birdies.
McIlroy, the Race to Dubai winner and who completed his career Grand Slam when he won the Masters this year, is making his first appearance at the Australian Open since 2015. He won it in 2013.
The winner of the Australian Open, which is the second event on the European tour's new schedule of tournaments for late this year and 2026, receives a Masters exemption next year. And the top three finishers not already exempt will qualify for the British Open in 2026 at Royal Birkdale.
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Cam Smith of Australia plays an approach shot on the 18th Hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (centre) reacts after completing his round with Adam Scott of Australia (Left) and Min Woo Lee of Australia (Right) during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Adam Scott of Australia on the 9th Hole after completing his 1st round during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Ryan Fox of New Zealand reacts during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Elvis Smylie plays an approach shot on the ninth Hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy. of Northern Ireland, reacts after putting on the the 11th hole during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts during the first round of the Australian Open golf tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit aimed at expanding defense and trade ties, as the United States presses New Delhi to revise its decades-old partnership with Moscow.
The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the United States pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. It will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on.
Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday, who gave the visiting leader a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend.
According to Indian officials involved in the preparation for the summit, the agenda includes talks on defense, energy and labor mobility.
In his opening remarks before the summit talks, Putin said he informed Modi about the war in Ukraine and U.S.-led peace effort. He thanked Modi for his attention to the war and “efforts directed at resolving the situation” while hailing Russia’s ties with India as historic and profound.
The Russian leader said the two countries have made significant progress in recent years with growth in their economies leading to expansion of cooperation in technology, aviation, space, and artificial intelligence.
“We have a very trusting relationship when it comes to military-technical cooperation. We intend to move forward in all these areas,” Putin added.
Modi, for his part, called for an expansion of India-Russia financial relations. “I hope we will take our meeting forward with such positive outcomes,” he said.
Modi emphasized the need for a “roadmap for peace” and said he hoped the world will soon be free from ongoing tensions.
“India is not neutral. India takes the side of peace. We support all efforts for peace. We stand shoulder to shoulder with respect to peace,” he added.
While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the United States and might jeopardize negotiations for major trade agreements with both that are seen as critical for India’s exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August, citing New Delhi's discounted Russian oil. India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China.
The U.S. says purchases of Russian oil help finance Moscow’s war machine. In October, the U.S. sanctioned two of Moscow’s biggest oil producers to force countries like India to cut down on imports. Indian officials have said New Delhi has always abided by international sanctions and would do so in the case of Russia oil purchases as well.
India and the U.S. set a target for the first tranche of a trade deal by the fall, but the deal hasn’t come through yet amid strains in relations.
India is also in the final stages of talks on a trade agreement with the EU, which sees Russia's war in Ukraine as a major threat.
Putin’s India visit, “given the timing and geopolitical context, underscores New Delhi’s strategic tightrope walk between the West and the rest, chiefly Russia,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.
Donthi said India’s tilt toward Russia dates back to the Cold War and persists despite its official nonaligned position. “The significant change now is its desire to be a strategic partner with the U.S. at the same time, which will be a diplomatic challenge,” he added.
In his meeting with Putin, Modi is likely to push for faster delivery of two further Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It has already received three under a 2018 deal worth about $5.4 billion. The delay has been tied to supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine.
The two sides signed a pact in February to improve military cooperation, exercises, port calls, disaster relief assistance and logistics support. Moscow’s State Duma ratified the same ahead of Putin’s India visit.
Talks are also expected on upgrading India’s Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerating deliveries of critical military hardware.
Trade is also expected to be a major point in talks.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year ended March, and the aim is to boost it to $100 billion by 2030. The trade is heavily skewed in favor of Russia with deep deficits for India, which it is looking to bridge by pushing exports.
India is keen to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to Russia and is seeking the removal of non-tariff barriers. New Delhi is also seeking long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow.
Another key area where the two countries are expected to finalize an agreement is the safety and regulation of migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia.
Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Hussain reported from Srinagar, India.
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives a guard of honor during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo prior to their talks in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, walks along with Indian President Droupadi Murmu, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose for a photo prior to their talks in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, shakes hands with Indian President Droupadi Murmu as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, looks on during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a photograph with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, and Indian President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during an interview with journalists and executives of Aaj Tak and India Today TV channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks during an interview with journalists and executives of Aaj Tak and India Today TV channels at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit inside a limousine as they arrive at the Indian Prime Minister office in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
