Rory McIlroy experienced a peculiar incident during his third round at the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. On the 11th hole, while hitting from the rough, he accidentally struck a second ball that was hidden in the grass, leading to a series of odd occurrences that left both him and the spectators astonished.

Initially, it appeared as if McIlroy had missed his shot completely when the ball popped into the air and dropped at his feet. However, replays confirmed he had, in fact, hit an embedded ball along with his own during his follow-through.

McIlroy, displaying good humor about the incident, picked up the extra ball and laughed off the strange twist. Despite the oddity, his initial shot did not reach the green, resulting in a bogey that put him back at 5 under, trailing by seven shots from the lead.

“I honestly don’t know [what happened]. It is the most weird, ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen,” said McIlroy post-round. “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.”

After a stellar start of three birdies in the first four holes, McIlroy’s luck turned. Although his shot on the 11th was disappointing, he made a remarkable eagle on the 12th that revitalized the crowd. “This could be one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had on a golf course,” he remarked afterward.

With only two shots separating him from second place, McIlroy remains a formidable contender heading into the final round, having hit 16 out of 18 greens throughout the day.

Ultimately, this unusual day at The Open stands out among his career highlights, as it showcased not only his skill but also his ability to handle unexpected challenges with a sense of humor.