Rory McIlroy escaped unscathed from a bizarre incident involving a spectator on the opening day of the US Open after a fan appeared to pick up his golf ball during an eventful round at Shinnecock Hills.
The world No 2 was battling through thick rough at the fourth hole when his recovery shot ricocheted off a cart path and came to rest close to spectators gathered alongside the fairway.
What happened next left those watching stunned.
As McIlroy made his way towards his ball, a woman standing nearby seemed to bend down and either touch or briefly lift it from the ground, seemingly unaware it remained in play.
Video footage from the scene captured the crowd reacting instantly, with dozens of fans shouting "No!" in unison as they realised what was unfolding.
Fortunately for McIlroy, the mishap had no impact on his score.
The Northern Irishman recovered to make par on the hole and carded a one-under-par 69, an encouraging start at a venue that inflicted one of the worst rounds of his career eight years ago.
Yet golf supporters on social media were far less forgiving, with many calling for the spectator to face punishment.
"If you pick up a golf ball at a golf tournament, not only should be kicked off the premises, but never be allowed to attend another in your life," wrote one fan.
Another posted: "Who at a golf tournament doesn't know you can't pick up a golf ball?"
A third suggested the woman may have confused the situation with another sport.
"She saw everyone running towards it and assumed they were going to pick it up. Treated it like a ball souvenir at a baseball game," they wrote.
A fourth crassly added: "How brain dead do you have to be?"
McIlroy's score could have been even better.
The 37-year-old briefly held the outright lead at three under before bogeys on his final two holes denied him a stronger opening position.
Even so, his 69 represented an 11-shot improvement on the nightmare 80 he posted in the opening round when the US Open was last staged at Shinnecock in 2018.
Play had been delayed for two hours because of dense fog blanketing the Long Island course, while gusting winds added another layer of difficulty to an already punishing layout.
McIlroy had recently joked that he was "a bit of a part-timer these days" after trimming his schedule ahead of the year's biggest events, but there was little evidence of rust.
Known primarily for his power off the tee, it was his putter that proved decisive, with McIlroy holing more than 100 feet of putts across the round.
He produced an eagle and three birdies, including a stunning effort on the fifth after launching a mammoth 396-yard drive before converting from just over 11 feet.
England's Tommy Fleetwood opened with a level-par 70, while Swedish Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg matched McIlroy's 69.
Meanwhile, world No 1 Scottie Scheffler had to settle for a two-over-par 72, while defending champion JJ Spaun faces an uphill battle to make the cut after beginning his title defence with a disappointing 77.
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