From McIlroy’s phone incident to Siem’s drunken record, we look back at the quirkiest golf moments of 2025.
Golf is often seen as a serious sport, steeped in etiquette and tradition. But even in this refined world, bizarre and unexpected moments can occur. From forgotten ball markers to £10,000 bets to quit smoking, 2025 delivered its fair share of oddities. Here’s our roundup of the year’s most curious golf stories.
Rory McIlroy confiscates a fan’s phone
Rory McIlroy is no stranger to hecklers, but one fan took it too far during a practice round at the Players Championship. After an interruption, McIlroy demanded the fan’s phone and walked off with it down the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was ejected from the tournament. Read more here.
Marcel Siem sets course record while drunk
Playing golf under the influence is generally frowned upon, but Marcel Siem defied expectations. In a podcast, the German pro revealed he once set three course records while drunk, 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. Read more here.
Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball at the US Open
At the 2025 US Open, Shane Lowry made a rare pro blunder—he picked up his ball on the 14th hole without marking it first, resulting in a penalty stroke. Already 14 over par and out of contention, Lowry laughed off the mistake after the round. Read more here.
McIlroy hits two balls at once
During the British Open, McIlroy hit a shot from the rough and, to his surprise, two balls flew out. The second ball was likely a lost one buried in the grass, but the moment sparked jokes about McIlroy’s magical abilities. Read more here.
Charley Hull bets £10,000 to quit smoking
Quitting smoking is tough—even for elite athletes. In March, Charley Hull made a bold wager with fellow pro Ryan Evans: if she smoked before mid-May, she’d owe him £10,000. She won