From McIlroy’s phone snatch to Siem’s drunken course record – we look back at golf’s most bizarre moments of 2025.
Golf is often seen as a serious sport, steeped in etiquette and calm. But even in this refined world, strange and hilarious moments are bound to happen. From forgotten ball markers to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking and even drunken course records, 2025 had its fair share of oddities. Here are some of the most curious golf moments of the year.
Rory McIlroy confiscates a fan’s phone
Rory McIlroy is no stranger to hecklers, but during a practice round at the Players Championship, he had enough. When a fan interrupted his swing, McIlroy demanded the man’s phone and walked off with it across the fairway. The fan eventually got his phone back—but was escorted out of the tournament.
Marcel Siem’s drunken course record
Playing 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 mid-round vomiting breaks, he played one of the best rounds of his life.
Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball
It’s a mistake every amateur can relate to, but rarely seen at the pro level. At the 2025 U.S. Open, Shane Lowry picked up his ball on the 14th green without marking it first, earning a penalty stroke. Already 14-over-par and far from the cut line, Lowry laughed off the blunder afterward.
McIlroy hits two balls at once
At the 2025 British Open, McIlroy pulled off a bizarre trick shot. 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 one of the strangest shots of the year.
Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet
Quitting smoking is tough—even for elite athletes. In March,