Rory McIlroy struggled on one of his favourite courses after his return following a post Masters break. The former World No.1 crashed to a four over par opening nine, before rallying to a one-over round. But that wasn't the weirdest part of his round.
On the par-three sixth hole - McIlroy and his playing partner Rickie Fowler were stunned to near silence after a fan threw a gift at the pair. A golf ball with an earplug attached to it.
Via ESPN, Fowler called it very random:
The guy tried to say it was a gift. I don't know why you would give a gift of a golf ball with an earplug attached to it.
Police escorted the fan from the course after the incident, and McIlroy agreed with Fowler about how weird it was:
It was one of those things. It was a golf ball with an ear plug stuck on it, so it was sort of strange.
It probably explains why McIlroy had that face on him after a beautiful tee shot to set up a birdie on the hole.
Rory McIlroy hasn't had his best stuff today.
This will make him feel better, though. https://t.co/kHP3Zfn9uh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2016
Weird. Just weird.
.@McIlroyRory & @RickieFowler on fan throwing golf ball near Rory after he teed off on 6th hole at #WellsFargoChamp pic.twitter.com/zUIQGA5ZAH
— Anthony Flores (@AnthonyTVSports) May 5, 2016