US Open bosses release statement on Rory McIlroy fan incident at Shinnecock

The USGA have confirmed that a fan did not pick up Rory McIlroy’s ball during the first round of the 2026 US Open.

The incident occurred on the 4th hole at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday – McIlroy’s 13th of the day – as the reigning Masters champion punched an approach shot out of some heavy rough.

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He could only send his ball way right, sailing into more rough, around 50 yards right of the green.

His ball hit a cart path and ballooned into a spectator area where a female fan appeared to walk over to it and pick it up – a strict no-no in professional golf, of course.

Audible sounds from the crowd shouting ‘nooo’ could be heard on the television broadcast, with McIlroy seemingly unaware of the situation.

A USGA spokesperson has now released a statement to GOLF.com, confirming the ball was not moved.

The statement read: “Right after McIlroy’s second shot on the 4th hole came to rest, it appeared on the broadcast that a fan was about to pick it up when the camera moved away.

“However, based on the testimony of fans and a review of the available video, his ball was not lifted. 

“The fan stopped just before picking it up and McIlroy played the ball as it lay.”

McIlroy shot an opening 69 at Shinnecock in some brutal conditions at the third major of the year.

The Grand Slam champion recorded three birdies and a brilliant eagle on the 5th hole but gave two shots back on his final two holes to leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

But the 2011 US Open champion is right in the mix yet again and will hope to kick on during Friday’s second round and put himself among the leaders going into the weekend.

“With the conditions today, anything under par or anything around even par is a good score,” McIlroy said. 

“It was a day to really keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here [opening-round 80].

“Went out with the mindset that pars were going to be good and if you could pick up a couple of birdies here and there, that’s always a bonus. 

“Really just minimising the mistakes and I did that for the most part today.

“I didn’t feel like I hit two bad iron shots on the last two holes (but) I put myself in pretty difficult spots and wasn’t able to get it up and down.”

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McIlroy was two-under-par after just three holes after a delayed start to his first round due to fog.

He gave those two early birdies back with bogeys on his 4th and 7th holes but then picked up three shots at the start of his second nine.

His pair of late bogeys both came from poor wedge shots into the green but he is just one shot off second heading into day two.

McIlroy – playing alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg – is scheduled to get his second round underway at 7:02pm UK time.