[imagesource: YouTube / Effortless Swing]

Golf as we know it is undergoing a seismic shift.

The Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Tour has created an unprecedented rift, offering mega paydays to golfers who essentially defect from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour).

Whether or not the breakaway tour with its rejigged format (54 holes, for example) attracts new fans to the game remains to be seen.

Some fans shouldn’t be on the course full stop. The man who drove a remote-controlled golf ball onto the green at this past weekend’s BMW Championship is one Rory McIlroy probably won’t be in a hurry to see again.

The Northern Irishman was lining up a putt during Saturday’s third round when he noticed something truly strange. Here’s Golf:

McIlroy turned his head back and looked confused. He then got his caddie, Harry Diamond, to take a look. To the right of the 15th green at Wilmington Country Club, in a bunker, was the ball of his playing partner, Scott Stallings. McIlroy’s ball was on the green, to the right of the hole, and about 15 feet away.

But … why was there a third ball on the green? And why was it … moving?

He quickly figured it out and refused to let the ball feel the warmth of the bottom of the cup.

In fact, he was so unenthused he hurled the ball into the water to the side of the green:

The fan in question wasn’t exactly trying to be lowkey:

By this point, Stallings’ caddie, Jon Yarbrough, and Diamond were standing near the fan. An officer eventually escorted him away, though not before he turned to the crowd and flashed his thumbs down, which drew boos.

After the hole, which Stallings and McIlroy both parred, they laughed as they walked to the 16th tee.

Following the completion of the round, Stallings said this fan had repeatedly yelled “This is my dream, this is my dream” in McIlroy’s direction.

Way to dream big, dude.

McIlroy actually received some stick for reacting as he did. At least he has the seal of approval from Happy Gilmore‘s Shooter McGavin:

Thank you @McIlroyRory. Hope you told this fan to go back to his shanty. pic.twitter.com/nhO1zobF4q

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) August 20, 2022

[source:golf]