2<\/p>\n A fan appeared to try and pick up McIlroy’s ballCredit: Getty<\/p>\n He could only send his ball way right, sailing into more rough, around 50 yards right of the green.<\/p>\n His ball hit a cart path and ballooned into a spectator area where a female fan appeared to walk over to it and pick it up – a strict no-no in professional golf, of course.<\/p>\n Audible sounds from the crowd shouting \u2018nooo\u2019 could be heard on the television broadcast, with McIlroy seemingly unaware of the situation.<\/p>\n A USGA spokesperson has now released a statement to GOLF.com, confirming the ball was not moved<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE ON GOLF<\/p>\n The statement read: \u201cRight after McIlroy\u2019s second shot on the 4th hole came to rest, it appeared on the broadcast that a fan was about to pick it up when the camera moved away.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, based on the testimony of fans and a review of the available video, his ball was not lifted.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe fan stopped just before picking it up and McIlroy played the ball as it lay.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy shot an opening 69 at Shinnecock<\/a> in some brutal conditions at the third major of the year.<\/p>\n The Grand Slam champion recorded three birdies and a brilliant eagle on the 5th hole but gave two shots back on his final two holes to leave a bitter taste in the mouth.<\/p>\n But the 2011 US Open champion<\/a> is right in the mix yet again and will hope to kick on during Friday\u2019s second round and put himself among the leaders going into the weekend.<\/p>\n “With the conditions today, anything under par or anything around even par is a good score,” McIlroy said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It was a day to really keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here [opening-round 80].<\/p>\n “Went out with the mindset that pars were going to be good and if you could pick up a couple of birdies here and there, that’s always a bonus.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cReally just minimising the mistakes and I did that for the most part today.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t feel like I hit two bad iron shots on the last two holes (but) I put myself in pretty difficult spots and wasn\u2019t able to get it up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n McIlroy has made a strong start to the 2026 US OpenCredit: Getty<\/p>\n![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/rory-mcilroy-northern-ireland-reacts-1089379042.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"McIlroy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/rory-mcilroy-northern-ireland-looks-1089336124.jpg\")
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