Rory McIlroy has revealed the details of a bizarre incident which led to a spectator being ejected from the Wells Fargo Championship during Thursday’s first round.
Defending champion McIlroy had just teed off on the par-three sixth hole at Quail Hollow, his 15th, when a golf ball was thrown onto the tee box — with an earplug stuck to it.
McIlroy, who came close to a hole-in-one and holed from four feet for birdie in his opening 73, said: “It was sort of weird. That’s never really happened to me before.”
Rory McIlroy hasn't had his best stuff today.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2016
This will make him feel better, though. https://t.co/kHP3Zfn9uh
The world number three's playing partner Rickie Fowler was preparing to hit his tee shot when the ball landed, but laughed off the incident after carding a one-under-par 71.
“So random,” Fowler said. “The guy tried to say it was a gift. I don’t know why you would give a gift of a golf ball with an earplug attached to it.”
McIlroy pointed out the spectator to security officials and he was removed from the course.