Royal Portrush witnessed an unprecedented moment during the third round of the 2025 Open Championship, as Rory McIlroy unearthed a second ball while playing from the rough on the 11th hole. The bizarre incident left McIlroy and spectators in disbelief, quickly becoming a viral sensation.
McIlroy's drive on the par-4 11th landed in the rough to the right of the fairway. As he swung to hit his approach shot, his club made contact with his ball and, unexpectedly, dislodged a second ball buried just beneath the surface. Replays showed the second ball popping straight up into the air upon impact. McIlroy, visibly stunned, picked up the extra ball, sharing a bemused laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
"I honestly don't know [what happened]. It is the most weird, ridiculous thing I've ever seen," McIlroy stated after the round. He further added, "And then my ball came out really weird and spinny. it's just so strange. I knew it wasn't [mine], but it was just so weird".
The unique event sparked a flurry of reactions online, with fans and commentators expressing their astonishment. Social media buzzed with humorous takes, with some joking about the previous owner of the rogue ball finally being found. Others questioned whether McIlroy would incur a penalty, though it was quickly clarified that no penalty would be applied since he didn't intentionally hit the second ball. USA TODAY Sports columnist Dan Wolken exclaimed, "I have never seen what just happened to Rory McIlroy. Never in my life".
Unfortunately for McIlroy, his actual ball landed short of the green, and he was unable to save par, resulting in his first dropped shot of the day. This bogey brought him back to 5-under for the tournament, placing him seven shots behind the leader.
Despite the setback on the 11th, McIlroy had an otherwise eventful round. He began strong, carding three birdies in the first four holes, electrifying the Northern Irish crowd. He managed to recover with a long eagle putt on the 12th, reigniting the enthusiasm of the home fans. At the end of the third round, McIlroy was tied for sixth place at -7, six strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler.
