From McIlroy’s phone incident to Siem’s drunken course record – we look back at golf’s most bizarre moments of 2025.
Golf is traditionally a sport of etiquette and composure, but even in this refined world, oddities abound. From forgotten ball markers to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking and even drunken course records, 2025 had its fair share of strange happenings. Here are some of the quirkiest 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 at the Players Championship, he had enough. After a fan shouted during his swing, McIlroy demanded the fan’s phone, walked off with it across the fairway, and had the spectator removed from the event. The phone was returned, but the message was clear.
Marcel Siem sets course record while drunk
Playing golf while intoxicated 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 drunk, including one during the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite two vomiting breaks, he called it 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 rare blunder for a pro. He picked up his ball on the 14th green without marking it, earning a penalty stroke. Already 14-over-par and out of contention, Lowry laughed off the mistake after the round.
McIlroy hits two balls at once
During the 2025 British Open, McIlroy pulled off a bizarre feat. While hitting from the rough on the 11th hole, a second ball unexpectedly flew out alongside his own. Likely explanation? A lost ball buried in the rough was dislodged by his swing.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet
Quitting smoking is tough—even for elite athletes. Charley Hull made it harder by betting fellow pro Ryan Evans £10,000 that she wouldn’t smoke until mid-May.