Rory McIlroy found himself in one of the most unusual situations during the third round of the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Saturday. As he attempted a shot from the rough on the 11th hole, McIlroy inadvertently unearthed a second, hidden ball beneath his own. Initially, it seemed as though he had missed the shot entirely, but replays revealed that his follow-through had accidentally dislodged an embedded ball that was obscured in the grass.
Surprised by the odd occurrence, McIlroy picked up the second ball and shared a laugh with those around him. Although this unexpected event led to a bogey on the hole, dropping him to 5 under par, it seemed to impact his momentum negatively. At that point, he was already seven shots behind the leader.
Reflecting on the bizarre sequence, McIlroy noted, “I honestly don’t know what happened. It is the most weird, ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. My ball came out really weird and spinny; it’s just so strange.”
Prior to this incident, McIlroy had made an impressive start to his round, achieving three birdies in his first four holes and thrilling the home crowd. However, after facing some challenges, including missed opportunities and unfortunate tee shots, the event on the 11th seemed to derail his hopes of climbing further up the leaderboard.
Despite the setback, McIlroy rebounded gloriously on the 12th hole with a long eagle putt, prompting a massive cheer from the crowd and restoring his confidence. “This could be one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had on a golf course,” he remarked afterward. He continued to gather momentum, securing another birdie on the 15th hole and finishing the day with a solid 5-under 66, which placed him in the top five entering the final round.
As he concluded his round, McIlroy found himself just two shots behind second-place Haotong Li and five behind Scottie Scheffler, who had established a significant lead. Notably, he hit 16 out of 18 greens in regulation—a personal best for an Open round at a venue other than St. Andrews.
Emphasizing his enjoyment of the event and the fan support he had received, McIlroy stated, “I’m really just trying to embrace everything this week. I’m having an incredible time. I feel like I’ve given myself half a chance, and I’m excited for that tomorrow.” Despite knowing he would need to raise his game even further to clinch a win, the positive energy from the crowd and his own buoyed performance could serve as a catalyst in the final round.
This tournament has become a celebration of McIlroy’s accomplishments, especially following the heartbreak he experienced in 2019 when he missed the cut. The memories of his exhilarating play at Royal Portrush are likely to resonate for years to come, offering hope for an inspiring finish on Sunday.