From McIlroy’s phone grab to Siem’s drunken course record — a look back at golf’s quirkiest moments of 2025.
Golf is typically a sport marked by etiquette and calm, but even this refined game has its share of bizarre moments. From forgotten ball markers to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking, 2025 delivered plenty of unexpected stories. Here are some of the strangest golf moments of the year.
Rory McIlroy confiscates a fan’s phone
Rory McIlroy is no stranger to fan interruptions, but during a practice round ahead of the Players Championship, he had enough. After a fan shouted during his swing, McIlroy demanded the fan’s phone and walked off with it across the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was escorted out of the tournament.
Marcel Siem’s drunken course record
Playing golf while drunk is usually a recipe for disaster — unless you’re Marcel Siem. The German pro revealed on a podcast that he once set three course records while intoxicated, including during the third round of the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite two vomiting breaks, he played one of the best rounds of his life.
Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball
At the 2025 U.S. Open, Shane Lowry made a mistake more common among amateurs: he picked up his ball without marking it on the 14th hole. The error cost him a penalty stroke, but with a score already 14 over par and missing the cut, Lowry was able to laugh it off post-round.
McIlroy hits two balls at once
During the British Open, McIlroy pulled off a trick even he hadn’t seen before. While hitting from the rough on the 11th hole, a second ball unexpectedly flew out with his shot. Most likely, it was a lost ball from earlier in the tournament that got dislodged by his swing.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet
Quitting smoking is tough — even for elite athletes. In March, Charley Hull made a bold move to motivate herself: