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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: Rory McIlroy bizarrely hits two balls at the same time
He is known for his golfing magic but Rory McIlroy has conjured his most novel trick of all at the Open – by hitting two balls at the same time. The Northern Irishman was left startled to the point of laughing after somehow unearthing a hidden ball while hacking his own ball from the rough. He had hit his tee shot wide ride of the fairway on the 11th before aiming his second shot at the green when the bizarre incident unfolded. His effort took a fair chunk of grass and mud with him as his ball arrowed in the right direction while another ball hidden in the rough chipped up towards him. McIlroy then smiled and held up the random ball to a surprised crowd who will have been waiting for video replays to establish what exactly had happened. The shot took place midway through a dramatic round for McIlroy which had been captivating the home crowd. McIlroy started the afternoon at three under, seven shots behind after Scottie Scheffler's seven-under-par 64 on Friday. There had been a string of early birdies before a bogey on the 11th, but the biggest Rory roar would erupt on the following hole as he sunk from 56 feet to secure an eagle which moved him to seven under. The world No 2 had said prior to today's action that he 'could be a couple closer to the lead' but he feels he is in a 'decent' position. The five-time major winner on Friday shot a second-round 69, one stroke better than he managed on Thursday. He failed to make the cut when the championship was last staged at Portrush in 2019. 'It was a hard pill to swallow, but at the same time, I left myself too much to do,' he said of his opening-round 79 in 2019, when he eventually missed the cut by a shot. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Golf fans can't believe incredibly rare moment at The Open after Rory McIlroy bizarrely ends up with another ball AFTER he hit his own
Rory McIlroy appeared to pull off an accidental trick shot during his third round at The Open on Saturday afternoon. McIlroy, 36, was hitting from the rough after an errant tee-off on the 11th hole at Portrush. As he was hitting the ball from such a tough position, he surprised even himself by chipping up another ball while his own sailed towards the green. The Northern Irishman could then be seen enjoying the bizarre moment as he held up the ball to the crowd - who had not yet realised what had occurred. McIlroy began the afternoon at three under, seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler following the American's outstanding seven-under-par 64 on Friday. After a run of birdies before an unwelcome bogey on the 11th, McIlroy got back on track and moved to seven-under-par after a magnificently sunk shot from 56 foot. This looks like a magic trick. — Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) July 19, 2025 As he was hitting the ball from such a tough position, he surprised even himself by chipping up another ball while his own sailed towards the green Viewers were stunned by the incident on social media as some appeared keen to explain how it happened in greater detail. One user wrote: 'That ball came out of the little bank in front of Rory's ball, commentators keep saying it was underneath, I'm mildly annoyed by this.' A second added: 'I still don't know if this is a good or bad shot'. Another user wrote: 'Someone has to track down the original owner of that ball'. A fourth remarked: '100s saying 'Hey, Rory found my ball''. Others sarcastically pointed out that McIlroy should be awarded a two-shot penalty after his compatriot Shane Lowry suffered that fate on Friday. Lowry's title hopes were dented when he was penalised for his ball moving while he was taking a practice swing in the rough on the par-five 12th hole of the course. The 2019 Open winner reached the 15th hole of his second round when he was informed by an R&A official that he was under investigatio after the incident. Some sarcastically pointed out that McIlroy should be awarded a two-shot penalty after his compatriot Shane Lowry suffered that fate on Friday Video footage appeared to show Lowry's ball moving and saw his group - which included leader Scheffler and Collin Morikawa - subsequently asked to look at the video evidence post-round. While Lowry said afterwards that he believed his ball did not move during the swing, he was also quick to say he did not want to branded as a 'cheat'. He stated: 'The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat. 'If the ball moved, I would have called it on myself. My head was definitely looking down at the ball and I didn't see it moving.' His chances of another Open trophy were shattered on Saturday after a poor round in which he carded a three-over-par 74 to leave him flailing towards the back of the pack. Hopes of a home victory therefore, rest with McIlroy, who will need to conjure up plenty more magic if he is to catch Scheffler and co.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rory McIlroy flirts with 2019 Open nightmare but recovers to keep dream intact
He waits, driving iron in hand, as one minute becomes three, then five. Enough time for the moment to grow even bigger. And for memories to flicker spitefully back to life. Finally the call comes. 'This is game number 46. On the tee from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy.' There is a nod of acknowledgment. A few encouraging cries of 'Goo-wan Rory'. But mostly the vast crowd is silent, nervous, mumbling its prayers. They know. He knows. Even if what happened the last time McIlroy stood here, on the opening day of the 2019 Open, is a subject to tiptoe around. The angsty swipe of a two-iron. The ball hurtling towards the out-of-bounds. The six cries of 'sit, sit!' The quadruple bogey eight. As in 2019, there is a right-to-left wind off the 1st tee, and out-of-bounds on the left and right. It looks eerily familiar. But McIlroy stays in the present. He looks up four times before the club is finally swung and the ball hit. But, as he picks up his tee, takes massive gulps of relief. It is not a great shot, in truth. It's left and in the shrubbery. But it is safe. And on a 420-yard hole that has already caused 25 bogeys, four double bogeys, and a seven by the time McIlroy tees off at 3.10pm, that is a result. The Northern Irishman's second is steered to the back of the green, leaving him a difficult up and down from 70 feet. The first putt is excellent. The second horrendous. And McIlroy walks away with a bogey five. Still, on the bright side. he is already three shots better than he was at this stage in 2019. What happens on the 1st hole turns out to be a harbinger of what is to follow over the next five hours and 51 minutes. There are too many loose drives. Too many hooks and cries of fore left. But McIlroy is able to hold it together – with the help of a lucky bounce here and there – before finishing with a flourish. And when he makes his final putt of the day, shortly after 9pm, he is able to sign for a one-under par 70 which is nine shots better than his opening round in 2019. But it was often a hard slog, in front of a hugely expectant crowd. When McIlroy and his playing partners, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, walked to the par-five 2nd, the crowd was sometimes 10 deep in places. Those watching on the 2nd hole saw a repeat of McIlroy's shot on the first, only this time his drive went 40 yards left of the fairway. No wonder he looked deeply annoyed as he walked towards the ball. And not even the marshal telling him 'We got it' soothed his mood. Yet McIlroy got out of the thick stuff, and then sent his third to 15 feet before making birdie. Suddenly he was smiling, chatting to Thomas, at level par and looking good. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion It helped too that the conditions were improving by the minute. The morning deluge had given way to sunny skies, the course was soft and receptive, the wind looked to have died down to boot. And, when McIlroy sank a 30-footer for birdie at the 5th and another at the 7th and 10th he was at two under par and the morning leaders' score of four under looked in sight. The problem was that his driver was continuing to wildly misbehave. When another one went astray at the 8th, he had missed all six fairways. Eventually it was to catch up with him with bogeys at 11, 12 and 14. When the Masters winner drives well, his game has an effortless flow to it. But when it is misfiring, he often becomes a raggedy genius, alternating between the squeamish and the sublime. But he was able to dig deep in the closing holes, with his approach on the 17th proving his shot of the day. Once again he had driven it way left. Only this time he not only could not see the flag stick but was in malicious rough. Yet not only did he get it out, but a fortuitous bounce left him with a 15-footer for birdie. When he made it, you could hear the cheers from the clubhouse. There was nearly another birdie on the last, but while that slipped by, McIlroy looked happy enough as he walked off the 18th. He knows it wasn't a great day. But he is three shots behind the leaders and still very much in the hunt.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rory McIlroy flirts with 2019 Open nightmare but recovers to keep dream intact
He waits, driving iron in hand, as one minute becomes three, then five. Enough time for the moment to grow even bigger. And for memories to flicker spitefully back to life. Finally the call comes. 'This is game number 46. On the tee from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy.' There is a nod of acknowledgment. A few encouraging cries of 'Goo-wan Rory'. But mostly the vast crowd is silent, nervous, mumbling its prayers. They know. He knows. Even if what happened the last time McIlroy stood here, on the opening day of the 2019 Open, is a subject to tiptoe around. The angsty swipe of a two-iron. The ball hurtling towards the out-of-bounds. The six cries of 'sit, sit!' The quadruple bogey eight. As in 2019, there is a right-to-left wind off the 1st tee, and out-of-bounds on the left and right. It looks eerily familiar. But McIlroy stays in the present. He looks up four times before the club is finally swung and the ball hit. But, as he picks up his tee, takes massive gulps of relief. It is not a great shot, in truth. It's left and in the shrubbery. But it is safe. And on a 420-yard hole that has already caused 25 bogeys, four double bogeys, and a seven by the time McIlroy tees off at 3.10pm, that is a result. The Northern Irishman's second is steered to the back of the green, leaving him a difficult up and down from 70-feet. The first putt is excellent. The second horrendous. And McIlroy walks away with a bogey five. Still, on the bright side. he is already three shots better than he was at this stage in 2019. What happens on the 1st hole turns out to be a harbinger of what is to follow over the next five hours and 51 minutes. There are too many loose drives. Too many hooks and cries of fore left. But McIlroy is able to hold it together – with the help of a lucky bounce here and there – before finishing with a flourish. And when he makes his final putt of the day, shortly after 9pm, he is able to sign for a one-under par 70 which is nine shots better than his opening round in 2019. But it was often a hard slog, in front of an hugely expectant crowd. When McIlroy and his playing partners, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood, walked to the par-five 2nd, the crowd was sometimes 10 deep in places. Those watching on the 2nd hole saw a repeat of McIlroy's shot on the first, only this time his drive went 40 yards left of the fairway. No wonder he looked deeply annoyed as he walked towards the ball. And not even the marshal telling him 'We got it' soothed his mood. Yet McIlroy got out of the thick stuff, and then sent his third to 15-feet before making birdie. Suddenly he was smiling, chatting to Thomas, at level par and looking good. It helped too that the conditions were improving by the minute. The morning deluge had given way to sunny skies, the course was soft and receptive, the wind looked to have died down to boot. And, when McIlroy sank a 30-footer for birdie at the 5th and another at the 7th and 10th he was at two under par and the morning leaders' score of four under looked in sight. The problem was that his driver was continuing to wildly misbehave. When another one went astray at the 8th, he had missed all six fairways. Eventually it was to catch up with him with bogeys at 11, 12 and 14. When the Masters winner drives well, his game has an effortless flow to it. But when it is misfiring, he often becomes a raggedy genius, alternating between the squeamish and the sublime. But he was able to dig deep in the closing holes, with his approach on the 17th proving his shot of the day. Once again he had driven it way left. Only this time he not only could not see the flag stick but was in malicious rough. Yet not only did he get it out, but a fortuitous bounce left him with a 15-footer for birdie. When he made it, you could hear the cheers from the clubhouse. There was nearly another birdie on the last, but while that slipped by, McIlroy looked happy enough as he walked off the 18th. He knows it wasn't a great day. But he is three shots behind the leaders and still very much in the hunt.
