Fans had flocked to the fifteenth green at the BMW Tournament in the hopes of watching four-time major winner Rory McIlroy get the hole, yet very first witnessed the strange sight of the North Irishman doggedly trying to keep a ball out of it.
McIlroy and actively playing partner Scott Stallings had been approaching the finish of their third circular when a remote-controlled basketball — appearing to be managed by a spectator beside the green — rolled towards the banner.
Getting circled the gap numerous times, the particular ball looked set to finally drop in to the cup when it has been swatted away simply by an outstretched McIlroy, who turned to face the pilot before blocking another run at the hole through the remote-guided ball.
There would be no third attempt since McIlroy picked up the particular ball before hurling it into the drinking water guarding the green, much to the delight of the onlooking crowd.
Cheers quickly turned to boos as the intruder — making a thumbs down gesture towards nearby fans — was led away by stewards.
“That wasn’t exactly something I expected to see on a Saturday mid-day, ” Stallings stated, according to USA Today’s Golfweek.
“He kept yelling at Rory, ‘This is my dream, this is my fantasy. ‘ I don’t know exactly what he had been dreaming about, but his ball is gone. ”
Stallings, who had been coating up his method shot from a nearby bunker during the incident, added he had already been ready to step in had McIlroy not used matters into their own hands.
“I thought it was great, ” the particular American said. “I was about to go is to do the same thing. ”
Both players subsequently parred the hole, with Stalling’s five-under sixty six round teeing upward a final day pursue of the title that fell agonizingly brief. At 13-under, the entire world No . 61 finished just one stroke lacking compatriot Patrick Cantlay, who successfully defended his 2021 crown.
McIlory finished 5 shots behind Cantlay to tie pertaining to eighth, securing yet another top 10 finish after fifth and 3rd place finishes at the US and Uk Opens respectively in recent months.
It also marked the particular Northern Irishman’s top role in an additional bizarre round associated with golf, following a good incredible first Open round within July.
Playing the 150th edition from the event at St . Andrews, McIlroy saw one tee generate strike an ancient rock on the fairway prior to another inadvertently hit a spectator, smashing their hand.