Watch: Birdies galore at Royal Portrush as Rory McIlroy experiences bizarre moment

BIRDIES GALORE: Rory McIlroy celebrates a birdie on the 1st during day three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in County Antrim. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Rory McIlroy and a whole host of other contenders have lit up Royal Portrush on day three of The Open.

Birdies and more than a few eagles have proliferated at a Causeway Coast venue which is offering up plenty of scoring chances under blue skies and in calm conditions and it is making for a superb day of golf.

McIlroy, starting seven shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, reeled off three birdies in his four holes to sit at six-under par.

His charge lost some steam after that with no more shots dropped or picked up from there to the turn. He would then experience something extremely rare as a ball dug deep into the soil popped up after he struck his shot.

Rory McIlroy hits his golf ball, and then another immediately appears from out from under his. Insane. pic.twitter.com/stFxxJ0HeJ

— OutKick (@Outkick) July 19, 2025

Russell Henley established a clubhouse lead of six-under par after a six-under 65, reigning champion Xander Schauffele reached the same target thanks in no small part to two eagles by the 12th and Tyrrell Hatton was up to minus-eight after a chip in eagle at the 7th.

It was all happening.

Critical to the gripping polit was the fact that Scheffler didn’t continue on from the night before when he had carded a 64.

The world number one signed for five pars in his first five holes to remain static.

Playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick was only one-under and on the same ten-under score at that point after an opening birdie and an eagle at the par-five second.