From McIlroy’s phone incident to Siem’s drunken record round — a look back at golf’s quirkiest moments of 2025.
Golf is often seen as a calm and serious sport, steeped in etiquette and tradition. But even in this refined game, odd and hilarious moments are bound to happen. From forgotten ball markings to bizarre bets and unexpected trick shots, 2025 delivered its fair share of golf weirdness. Here are some of the most curious highlights of the year.
Rory McIlroy confiscates a fan’s phone
During a practice round ahead of the Players Championship, Rory McIlroy had enough of a disruptive fan. After the fan shouted during his swing, McIlroy walked over, took the fan’s phone, and strolled off down the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was escorted out of the tournament. Read more.
Marcel Siem sets course record — drunk
Playing golf while intoxicated is generally frowned upon, but Marcel Siem turned it into a legendary tale. On a podcast, the German pro revealed he once set three course records while drunk — including a memorable round at the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite two vomiting breaks, he played one of the best rounds of his life. Read more.
Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball at the US Open
At the 2025 US Open, Shane Lowry made a rare rookie mistake: he picked up his ball on the 14th green without marking it first. The result? A penalty stroke. Already well over par and out of contention, Lowry laughed it off after the round. Read more.
McIlroy hits two balls with one swing
At the British Open, McIlroy pulled off a bizarre trick shot — unintentionally. While hitting from the rough on the 11th hole, two balls flew out. One was his, the other likely a lost ball from earlier in the week. Magic? Not quite, but certainly memorable. Read more.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet
Quitting smoking is tough — even for elite athletes. To motivate herself, Charley Hull made a bold bet with fellow pro Ryan Evans: if she smoked before mid-May, she’d owe him £