From McIlroy’s phone snatch to Siem’s drunken course records – the weirdest golf moments of 2025 in our year in review.
Golf is typically a sport of etiquette and calm, but even this refined game has its bizarre moments. From forgotten ball markers to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking and record-setting rounds under the influence, 2025 delivered some truly odd stories. Here are the strangest golf moments of the year.
Rory McIlroy confiscates a fan’s phone
Rory McIlroy is no stranger to hecklers, but during a practice round ahead of the Players Championship, he had enough. After a fan interrupted his swing, McIlroy demanded the fan’s phone and walked off with it across the fairway. The phone was eventually returned, but the fan was ejected from the tournament.
Marcel Siem sets course record while drunk
Playing golf drunk is usually a recipe for disaster, but not for Marcel Siem. In a podcast, the German pro revealed he set three course records while intoxicated, including one during the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite vomiting twice during the round, he called it one of the best performances of his life.
Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball at the US Open
At the 2025 US Open, Shane Lowry made a mistake more common among amateurs than pros. On the 14th hole, he picked up his ball without marking it, earning a penalty stroke. Already 14-over-par and far from making the cut, Lowry was able to laugh about the blunder afterward.
McIlroy hits two balls at once at The Open
At the 2025 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. The likely explanation: a lost ball from earlier in the tournament was dislodged by his swing.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 bet to quit smoking
Quitting smoking is tough—even for elite athletes. To motivate herself, Charley Hull made a bold wager in March.