A fan at Shinnecock Hills thought she was about to walk away with a souvenir after Rory McIlroy hit a shot way off the mark on the fourth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.
The woman appeared to pick up his ball after he hit it out of the fescue and into the gallery during what looked like it would be a rough part of the course for McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman had found himself in a bit of trouble after his drive went to the left of the fairway and into the rough, setting up a challenging second shot, which he hit off the course to the right and off a cart path and into another grassy area.
Fans noticed the ball and soon started to swarm around.
A woman who had been passing by had also noticed the ball and unassumingly leaned over to pick it up, which was captured on the USA Network broadcast of Round 1, as was the audible “No!” from the fans around her.
McIlroy was given free relief, and he was able to chip the ball onto the green before closing it out for par on his next shot.
It seemed to be the way the day had been going for McIlroy, who had been playing well through the first round and had gone into his final two holes of the afternoon 3-under par.
McIlroy had expected a challenge this week due to the tough nature of the course at Shinnecock Hills.
“I think if everything is going the way everyone wants it in terms of weather, setup, I think it’s the best championship test in the country,” he said Tuesday. “I think it tests all aspects of the game: driving, iron play, you need to have your wits about you on the greens. It’s a lot of strategy, thoughtfulness.
“Look, it’s a golf course where it can turn very quickly. You get a day like [Monday] with a lot of wind and dry, clear conditions like this, and I think we’re just going to have to be mindful of that as the week goes on.”