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After bizarre incident with spectator, Rory McIlroy misses cut at Scottish Open

Golf, EUR

A fan was ejected from the Scottish Open on Friday morning after removing a club from Rory McIlroy's bag.

The spectator walked up to McIlroy on the 10th tee at the European Tour event, at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, before removing a club from the Northern Irishman's bag.

McIlroy and his caddie looked on in confusion at the spectator, who was taken away by security soon after.

"I was surprised. Everyone saw what happened on TV," McIlroy said when asked about the incident. "It was handled efficiently and everything was OK. I had no idea who it was."

"Me and Rory didn't say anything," added Jon Rahm, who set the early clubhouse target with a 65 to go 11 under overall on Day 2. "He was holding a 6-iron and I didn't want to get hurt.

"It didn't put anyone off. If anything, it put a smile on our faces. It will be a pretty good story to tell in the future." 

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said a 35-year-old man was taken to a hospital in Edinburgh and that an investigation continues.

Not long after the incident, McIlroy posted an even-par round of 71 and missed the cut at the event.

The four-time major winner will play in the 149th Open at Royal St. George's, which begins Thursday, with organizers planning to admit 32,000 spectators per day. Last year's Open was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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