Rory McIlroy’s third-round charge at The Open hit a bump in bizarre fashion on Saturday when he unwittingly performed a trick shot at the 11th hole.

There was a moment in the middle of the afternoon Saturday at Royal Portrush where it still felt like anything was possible at the 2025 Open Championship. All scenarios were still on the table. Hope ran rampant around the property as the third round trundled on and player after player made birdie after birdie.

Rory McIlroy's Saturday insanity at the Open Championship welcomed an unsuspecting visitor who experienced a few surprises along the way.

Full live text coverage and radio commentary from day three of The Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland

Follow live coverage of the third round at the Open Championship as Scottie Scheffler looks to build his lead at Royal Portrush

Rory McIlroy is looking to win his second Open Championship and sixth major overall in front of a home crowd at Portrush, and put a recent run of near misses behind him

Six years ago at Royal Portrush, McIlroy, who grew up less than an hour away, hit his opening shot out of bounds on the par-4 first on his way to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a 79. He pulled his tee shot again, this time around, but it settled safely in the left rough.