NZ Herald News Article.
Last updated Friday 5th December 2025.
Four birdies in his last five holes led to Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier working his way into contention in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Hillier shot a three-under-par 68 second round on Friday to be six-under for the tournament and three shots off the lead.
Starting his day on the back nine, the 27-year-old was at even par through 11 holes after carding pars on all of those before a bogey on the par-four third.
But birdies on the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes meant he finished in strong form before the weekend.
Hillier said he was happy to be in contention at the halfway point of the tournament, especially given how he felt during his second round.
“Then, I don’t know, I came around the turn. There were a few more people out, a few more people getting behind me and that gave me a bit more energy down the stretch and I was able to finish off with a few birdies, which was nice.”
He sat level with fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox as the top Kiwis in the field, with Fox dropping a few spots on the leaderboard after an even-par 71 in his second round.
Portugal’s Daniel Rodrigues and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen held the clubhouse lead at nine-under-par.
Rodrigues climbed 11 places on the leaderboard with a seven-under round, which was the best score of the day, while Neergaard-Petersen backed up his four-under first round with a five-under second.
Current world No 2 Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, bounced back after a one-over first round with a three-under second to move under par for the tournament.
