Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy on Friday found themselves at the centre of a bizarre incident at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick.
Rahm claimed a share of the lead at the Scottish Open, while McIlroy missed the cut.
The two European Ryder Cup stars were playing with Justin Thomas when, on the 10th hole, a spectator walked on to the tee.
He removed the cover from the McIlroy’s driver before taking a couple of practice swings with an iron.
“I was surprised. Everyone saw what happened on TV,” McIlroy said. “It was handled efficiently and everything was okay. I had no idea who it was.”
Rahm claimed the man, who Police Scotland said was taken to hospital after being ejected from the course, smelt of alcohol and added: “I don’t think any of us understood what was going on.
“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.”
Rahm’s sparkling recent form, which secured the US Open title last month and sees him riding high, is also shaping up into a pretty good story to tell.
The Spaniard world number one carded eight birdies in a 65 to follow his Thursday 66 for 11 under overall.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry matched Rahm’s scores and England’s first-round leader Jack Senior made it a three-way tie at the top.
Lee Westwood stormed into the clubhouse, going eagle, birdie, birdie over the final three holes and is a shot behind the leaders alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and George Coetzee.
Thomas and Ian Poulter are in a group of four players on eight under.
Inebriated interlopers were not the end of McIlroy’s concerns, however, as he could only card a level par 71 on Friday.
It left him one under for the tournament and a shot below the cut line.
