A spectator brazenly walked on to a teebox and took a club from Rory McIlroy's bag in a bizarre and troubling start to the second round of the Scottish Open.
As McIlroy and Jon Rahm, the world No 1, looked on in befuddlement, the man took a few swings before officials eventually arrived to lead him away. Police later revealed a 35-year-old was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and that the "investigations were ongoing".
Inevitably, there were questions asked about the security at this $US7 million (NZ$10 million) event. This is the first time that fans have been allowed in to watch a British golf event since the pandemic took root 15 months ago. Only 4,000 have been permitted entry, which makes this incident yet more concerning.
![Rory McIlroy (in red) looks on confused as the fan takes a club from his bag. Photo / GolfMagic](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/PSEZ5X34COZQBI36OQ2E7FTD7Y.jpg?auth=8cf0411acd846e29f44345e3de4bf50ced1dd3a3d3f6eb87969df933e125ecef&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
The intruder was able to stroll up unchallenged to the marquee grouping – also featuring Justin Thomas, the world No 3 – before nonchalantly reaching in between Rahm and McIlroy as they chatted, first taking the head cover off a wood before settling upon an iron.