British Open: Rory McIlroy produces the most bizarre shot of his life at Royal Portrush
- - - British Open: Rory McIlroy produces the most bizarre shot of his life at Royal Portrush
Jay BusbeeJuly 19, 2025 at 10:28 PM
So, this was weird: Rory McIlroy, playing his second shot from the rough on the 11th at Royal Portrush in Round 3 of the British Open, somehow managed to unearth another ball in mid-swing.
The second ball was apparently embedded in the ground a few inches ahead of McIlroy's ball, and popped into the air as McIlroy's shot flew greenward.
Woah pic.twitter.com/2TlN6PykP6
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) July 19, 2025
“That is one of the most weird, ridiculous things I’ve ever seen," McIlroy said of the shot after his round, where he finished at 8-under. "So strange.”
McIlroy tossed the extra ball aside. For the record, it was a Titleist 4, and it ended up in the hands of a lucky fan:
This is Harry Bingham and he got quite the souvenir at the 11th at Portrush. When Rory hit from the right rough, a second ball emerged that must have been embedded near it. Wild stuff. @golfweekpic.twitter.com/AEkcFBfF6u
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) July 19, 2025
Alas, because McIlroy didn't replace the ball in its original spot, the R&A hit Shane Lowry with a two-shot penalty. (Kidding. Maybe.)
McIlroy would go on to bogey the hole.
After a hot three-birdies-in-four-holes start, McIlroy cooled off slightly, parring the next six holes before the weirdest bogey at 11.
He did, however, follow that up with a monster putt for eagle at No. 12 to move closer to the top of the leaderboard.
Source: “AOL AOL Sports”
