Spectator takes swing of Rory McIlroy's club at Scottish Open
1 Min Read

NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 09: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks from the 12th tee during Day Two of the abrdn Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 09, 2021 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Written by The Associated Press
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) -- A spectator was escorted from the course at the Scottish Open on Friday after taking a club from Rory McIlroy's bag and taking a few swings with it.
The incident took place on the 10th tee, where McIlroy was waiting to get his second round underway at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
Widely spread footage on social media showed a man walk on to the tee, take the head cover off McIlroy's driver and then grab an iron from the bag. McIlroy, a four-time major winner, was seen looking on in bemusement.
The man was eventually escorted off the tee by a security guard after handing the club to McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond.
"At approximately 8 a.m. on Friday morning, a spectator entered the 10th tee area," a statement from the European Tour read. "He was quickly escorted from the tee by security personnel and the matter is in the hands of Police Scotland."
U.S. Open champion Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, Nos. 1 and 3 in the world, respectively, were also on the tee as playing partners of McIlroy. No one was hurt in the incident.
David Wilson, a member of nearby club Kilspindie who posted the footage, said in The Scotsman newspaper: "The players laughed it off, saying they knew he wasn't a golfer when they saw his grip."




