From McIlroy’s phone snatch to Marcel Siem’s drunken course records – we look back at golf’s most bizarre moments of 2025.
Golf is typically a sport of etiquette and composure, but even this refined game has its share of oddities. From forgotten ball markers to a £10,000 bet to quit smoking, and even record-breaking rounds under the influence — 2025 delivered some truly strange moments. Here’s our roundup of the quirkiest golf happenings of the year.
Rory McIlroy’s phone-snatching incident
Rory McIlroy is no stranger to hecklers, but during a practice round at the Players Championship, he had enough. When a fan interrupted him mid-round, McIlroy demanded the spectator’s phone and walked off with it across the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was ejected from the event.
Marcel Siem’s drunken course record
Playing golf drunk is usually a recipe for disaster — unless you’re Marcel Siem. In a podcast, the German pro revealed he once set three course records while intoxicated, including one during the third round of the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite two mid-round vomiting breaks, he called it one of the best rounds of his life.
Shane Lowry’s amateur mistake at the US Open
Even pros make rookie mistakes. At the 2025 US Open, Shane Lowry picked up his ball on the 14th hole without marking it first — a clear rules violation that cost him a penalty stroke. Already 14 over par and out of contention, Lowry laughed off the error after his round.