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Rory McILroy had a third sensational round that saw him increase the classification at the open Saturday in Royal Portrush, but the shot he remembers the most is when he hit two balls with a swing.
McILroy, 36, hit an wandering journey on the 11th hole and the ball landed where the fans are. McILroy’s ball had a decent lie because the ground had been trampled in recent days.
However, what McILroy did not know was directly under his ball, another golf ball was immersed in the ground which could not be seen, because it was buried under the surface.
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Rory McILroy of Northern Ireland reacts after having determined an old golf ball while playing his own Rough ball on the 11th hole on the third day of the 153rd championship open to the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2025. (Andy Buchanan / AFP via Getty Images)
While McILroy was swinging, his ball went 117 meters in the Fairway, and when he contacted the ground, the other ball appeared a few meters in the air and landed between his feet.
McILroy almost immediately looked down and chose the ball with disbelief.
“Oh my God,” said McILroy, picking up the ball he unearthed with his swing.
John Parry strikes the first hole in one in the open championship of this year with a spectacular shot
Rory McILroy of Northern Ireland reacts after having determined an old golf ball while playing his own Rough ball on the 11th hole on the third day of the 153rd championship open to the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on July 19, 2025. (Andy Buchanan / AFP via Getty Images)
McILroy finally threw the ball into a bush and asked NBC analyst Roger Maltbie, “Have you ever seen it before?”
“This is the strangest and most ridiculous thing I have ever seen,” said McILroy after the Tour.
McILroy ended with a bogey and a ball discovered on the 11th hole. The Bogey on the 11th hole was his only imperfection during the day.
Rory McILroy of Northern Ireland recognizes the crowd of the crowd on the 16th green in the third round of the British Golf Championship Open at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, in Northern Ireland, Saturday July 19, 2025. (Photo / Francisco Seco)
The Grand Chelem winner came out hot as he sorted three of his first four holes. After his bogey on the 11th hole, he replied by draining a 56 -foot eagle putt on the 12th hole to recover the blow.
McILroy won another birdie on the 15th hole, and finished 5 under the peer for the day, and 8 under the tournament.
When writing these lines, McILroy is tied for fourth place and five strokes behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler.
