From McIlroy’s phone incident to Siem’s drunken course record—2025 delivered some truly bizarre golf moments.
Golf is typically a sport of etiquette and quiet concentration, but even this refined game has its share of oddities. From a forgotten ball marker to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking, 2025 brought plenty of strange stories. Here’s our roundup of the most bizarre 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 man’s phone and walked off with it down the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was escorted out of 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 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 rare mistake for a pro—he picked up his ball on the 14th green without marking it, resulting in a penalty stroke. Already 14 over par and out of contention, Lowry laughed off the blunder after the round.
McIlroy hits two balls with one swing
During the 2025 British Open, Rory McIlroy pulled off a bizarre feat. While hitting from the rough on the 11th hole, two balls flew out—his own and a lost ball buried in the grass. Magic? Not quite, but certainly memorable.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet
Quitting smoking isn’t easy—even for elite athletes. Charley Hull made it interesting by betting fellow pro Ryan Evans £10,000 she wouldn’t smoke until mid-May. She won the bet and