During the 153rd Open Championship, Rory McIlroy experienced an unusual moment when he struck two golf balls at once. This incident occurred on July 19, as he played in the third round of the tournament.
As McIlroy swung his wedge, he inadvertently hit a second ball that had been hidden beneath the first. The unexpected occurrence prompted a surprised reaction from McIlroy, who exclaimed, “Oh, my God,” in a video clip shared online.
After realizing what had happened, he quickly retrieved the second ball, sharing a laugh with those around him. An announcer remarked, “There was a ball there! Oh, my Gosh,” while The Athletic humorously noted, “Rory McIlroy made another ball appear.”
Post-round, McIlroy expressed his bewilderment about the incident. “That is the most weird, ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen,” he stated, reflecting on how his own ball behaved oddly afterward. “Yeah, just so strange,” he added.
Scottie Scheffler emerged as the champion of the tournament held at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Prior to the event, McIlroy had shared his anticipation for returning to this particular course.
“When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was circled, even more so than the Masters,” he mentioned earlier this month.
In April, McIlroy celebrated a significant milestone by winning the Masters, becoming the sixth golfer to achieve a career grand slam. “I’ve done something that I’ve told everyone that I wanted to do, but then it’s like I still feel like I have a lot more to give,” he remarked. “The story certainly isn’t over.”
Following the tournament, McIlroy took a brief two-week break to mentally reset with his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy. The couple married in 2017 and briefly faced divorce proceedings in 2024 before reconciling.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth [England] and have been trying to settle in,” McIlroy shared with reporters in June. “It’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you.”
He continued, “Sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while. It’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year.”
