A misbehaving golf fan who crashed the green at the Scottish Open on Friday and plucked a club from Rory McIlroy’s bag is seeing red after being ejected from the event by security.
Preparing to tee off at the 10th hole at the Renaissance Club, McIlroy and his playing partner Jon Rahm looked on with amusement and confusion as the male fan stepped inside the ropes and attempted to pull the driver from the Northern Irishman’s bag. After coming up with just the head cover, the fan grabbed an iron instead and proceeded to take a couple of practice swings.
After being asked to return to the gallery, the fan complied and was soon escorted from the event by security.
“It was a surprise, yes, but it was handled efficiently and everything’s OK,” McIlroy said afterward. “I had no idea who he was. Again, it was handled quickly and that was the end of it.”
Now in the hands of Police Scotland spokesperson, the 35-year-old man has been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and “inquiries are ongoing.”
“Security was good, but these things can happen,” Rahm said after the round. “He had good timing. He walked in very confidently. We were all thinking, ‘Maybe he is supposed to be here.’ We didn’t know. Rory and I both thought it was a prank or someone who was supposed to be there. We had three or four security guys with us: Two walk with us, and they did what they have to do. It was just someone who took advantage … If anything, it put a smile on our faces. It will be a pretty good story to tell in the future.”
After shooting an opening-round 1-under 70 in the first round, McIlroy shot an even-par 71 in his second round on Friday to put him just outside the cut line. Rahm shot a 65 on Friday after shooting a 66 the day before.
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