Rory McIlroy Unearths Hidden Golf Ball in Bizarre Moment at The Open

In a moment that could only be described as a stroke of pure golfing absurdity, Rory McIlroy pulled off a shot at The Open on Saturday at Royal Portrush that left everyone—himself included—utterly stunned. During an already impressive third round that saw him climb the leaderboard, McIlroy managed to hit two balls with a single swing on the 11th hole, unearthing a hidden golf ball in the process.

The incident unfolded after an errant drive landed among the trampled ground near the fans. Unbeknownst to McIlroy, another ball lay buried beneath his own. As he took his swing, sending his ball 117 yards into the fairway, the impact with the ground popped the hidden ball into the air, landing right between his feet. McIlroy’s reaction was immediate and priceless—picking up the rogue ball in disbelief, he exclaimed, “Oh my God!”

After tossing the unearthed ball into a nearby bush, McIlroy couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer weirdness of it all, calling it the most bizarre thing he’d ever witnessed on a course. And honestly, who could blame him? Despite the oddity, his game remained strong. Though he carded a bogey on the 11th—his only misstep of the day—he bounced back with a jaw-dropping 56-foot eagle putt on the 12th and a birdie on the 15th, finishing 5-under for the round and 8-under for the tournament.

At the close of play, McIlroy sat tied for fourth, just five strokes behind leader Scottie Scheffler. If he keeps swinging with this kind of magic—accidental or not—the final round promises to be a spectacle.