So, this was weird: Rory McIlroy, playing his second shot from the rough on the 11th at Royal Portrush in Round 3 of the British Open, somehow managed to unearthanotherball in mid-swing. The second ball was apparently embedded in the ground a few inches ahead of McIlroy's ball, and popped into the air as McIlroy's shot flew greenward. Woahpic.twitter.com/2TlN6PykP6 — claire rogers (@kclairerogers)July 19, 2025 "That is one of the most weird, ridiculous things I've ever seen," McIlroy said of the shot after his round, where he finished at 8-under. "So strange." McIlroy tossed the extra ball aside. For the record, it was a Titleist 4, and it ended up in the hands of a lucky fan: This is Harry Bingham and he got quite the souvenir at the 11th at Portrush. When Rory hit from the right rough, a second ball emerged that must have been embedded near it. Wild stuff.@golfweekpic.twitter.com/AEkcFBfF6u — Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak)July 19, 2025 Alas, because McIlroy didn't replace the ball in its original spot,the R&A hit Shane Lowry with a two-shot penalty. (Kidding. Maybe.) McIlroy would go on to bogey the hole. After a hot three-birdies-in-four-holes start, McIlroy cooled off slightly, parring the next six holes before the weirdest bogey at 11. He did, however, follow that up with a monster putt for eagle at No. 12 to move closer to the top of the leaderboard.