A spectator was ejected from a golf tournament on Friday, after he cavalierly walked into the tee box and unsheathed a club from the bag of star Rory McIlroy.
The surreal scene unfolded on the 10th tee at the ongoing Scottish Open, where McIlroy was stood with playing partner Jon Rahm.
In video seen on social media, the fan calmly strolls onto the course, plucks a club from McIlroy's bag, and goes on to line up at the tee for a few moments before he's confronted by security. Two guards are later called over, who escort the apparently disturbed fan off the course after he hands over the cover belonging to the club he picked up.
The veteran golfers were so caught off guard by the unusual display, they seemingly didn't know how to react initially.
"Security was good, but these things can happen," Rahm told reporters 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."
Police Scotland was investigating the matter, and the fan was in the custody of authorities in Edinburgh, according to the European Tour.
The Scottish Open is a warmup event for next week's British Open, which will be held at Royal St. George's in England.
The strange incident with the fan comes just weeks after PGA officials apologized to Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka for a security lapse at the US Open at Kiawah, where scores of unruly fans rushed the 18th hole to celebrate Mickelson's win.
Mickelson said the episode was "unnerving," while Koepka complained that he was pushed and shoved while still nursing a surgically repaired knee.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram