US Open releases statement about the controversial Rory McIlroy fan incident
US Open officials recently cleared up rumors that a fan picked up Rory McIlroy’s ball during the first round.
The 2026 US Open got underway on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, where some of golf’s biggest names faced tough conditions. Right now, American players are leading the scoreboard, with Wyndham Clark and Dustin Johnson sitting at six-under-par and four-under-par, respectively.
World number one Scottie Scheffler had a rough start, finishing two over par and tied for 46th place with 24 others. Bryson DeChambeau is doing solidly at even par, tied 16th, while 2026 Masters winner Rory McIlroy is tied 9th, one under par after a strong first round.
McIlroy’s round wasn’t without a bit of drama, especially on the 4th hole (his 13th of the day). After hitting his ball into the rough, his second shot bounced on a paved path and over some spectators’ heads before landing on a small patch of grass. Video seemed to show a female fan bending down as if to pick up the ball—something that’s not allowed in professional golf.
Other fans shouted “NO,” but the cameras cut away before it was clear if she actually touched the ball. Because of this, US Open officials reviewed all the footage and spoke to witnesses. They confirmed that the fan stopped just before touching the ball, and McIlroy played it as it lay.
The official statement said, “It looked like a fan might pick up the ball right after McIlroy’s second shot on the 4th hole, but after looking at the video and hearing from fans, we confirmed the ball was not lifted. The fan stopped just before picking it up, and McIlroy continued play as normal.”
Even though McIlroy ended his round with two bogeys in a row, he’ll be happy with his score of 69, which included three birdies and an eagle in tough conditions. When talking about his round, the 2011 US Open champ said he was pleased to finish in a spot where he can push forward as the conditions improve.
“Given how tough it was out there, anything under or around even par is a good score,” McIlroy said. “Today was all about staying in the tournament and not shooting yourself out of it—that’s what I did eight years ago when I shot an 80 in the first round here. I went out thinking pars would be good and if I got a few birdies, that’d be a bonus. I focused on limiting mistakes, and I mostly did that today. I didn’t hit two bad iron shots on the last two holes, but I did put myself in tough spots and couldn’t get up and down.”
McIlroy tees off for his second round at 18:58, playing alongside Ludvig Åberg and his close friend Tommy Fleetwood.