Year in Review: Phone Snatch and Drunken Records – Golf’s Strangest 2025 Moments

From McIlroy’s phone snatch to Siem’s drunken record – a look back at golf’s most bizarre moments of 2025.

Golf is often seen as a serious sport, defined by etiquette and quiet concentration. But even in this refined world, strange and hilarious moments can happen. From forgotten ball markers to drunken course records and high-stakes bets to quit smoking, 2025 delivered plenty of oddities. Here’s our roundup of the quirkiest golf moments of the year.

Rory McIlroy snatches a fan’s phone

Rory McIlroy is no stranger to hecklers, but one fan went too far during a practice round ahead of the Players Championship. After being interrupted mid-round, McIlroy demanded the fan’s phone and walked off with it across the fairway. While the phone was eventually returned, the fan was ejected from the tournament.

Marcel Siem’s drunken course record

Playing golf while drunk is usually a recipe for disaster – unless you’re Marcel Siem. The German pro revealed on a podcast that he once set three course records while intoxicated, including during the third round of the 2015 Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite two breaks to vomit, he played one of the best rounds of his life.

Shane Lowry forgets to mark his ball

At the 2025 US Open, Shane Lowry made a rare mistake for a pro: he picked up his ball without marking it first on the 14th hole. The blunder cost him a penalty stroke, but with Lowry already 14-over and missing the cut, he was able to laugh it off afterward.

McIlroy hits two balls at once

During the 2025 British Open, Rory McIlroy pulled off an accidental magic trick. While hitting from the rough on hole 11, not one but two balls flew out. The likely explanation? A previously lost ball had been buried in the grass and got dislodged by McIlroy’s swing.

Charley Hull’s £10,000 no-smoking bet

Quitting smoking is tough, even for elite athletes. Charley Hull found motivation by making a bold wager.