A reminder if you go to golf tournament: Do not, under any circumstances, touch a ball that was put into play by a pro. If they hit you with a shot or the ball lands in your cup, different story. But this is a lesson learned for a fan at Shinnecock Hills who was there for the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open.
Rory McIlroy hit a shot on No. 4 from some rough that took a bounce off the cart path and landed near a fan who bent down and appeared to either touch the ball or maybe pick it up for a second. You can hear on the broadcast a collective “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” from the rest of the gallery who saw what happened. McIlroy’s next shot wasn’t affected.
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Lesson learned! Golf balls hit in play are not souvenirs!
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
James Nicholas of the United States walks off the sixth tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
James Nicholas of the United States walks off the sixth tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Mike Mulholland, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Keegan Bradley of the United States looks on from the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Daniel Berger of the United States plays a shot from the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Brooks Koepka of the United States walks off the first green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Cameron Young of the United States walks off the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rickie Fowler of the United States looks on from the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Patrick Reed of the United States walks to the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
A detail view as Andrew Novak of the United States places his ball on the second tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Mason Howell of the United States lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
A general view of the clubhouse during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after making par on the first green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Amateur Eric Lee of the United States jogs across the 13th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Peter Uihlein of the United States and his caddie look on from the 13th green during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Best photos from Thursday’s first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland retrieves his hat after it was blown off on the 13th tee during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
Made for a funny moment, though.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: US Open fans scream at woman touching Rory McIlroy’s golf ball
