McIlroy digs in to unearth oddball Open surprise and ‘half-chance’ at late title tilt | Sean Ingle

Home favourite in disbelief after shot on the 11th sends an old ball flying but eagle a hole later sends fans into ecstasy

Deep into day three of the Open and Rory McIlroy is still surfing gigantic waves of momentum and goodwill. He has jumped to six under, at this point only four shots off the lead, with each birdie sounding like a sonic boom over Portrush. It is manic, messianic and a lot of fun. And then it gets weird. Twilight Zone weird.

McIlroy has just twirled a drive into the rough at the 11th. For a moment he fears that his ball is lost, only to get the all clear from the marshal. Better still, he will be playing from trampled-down ground. He pauses. Takes aim. And then as his ball flops wearily into air, a member's Titleist ball, which has been deeply buried under ground, suddenly jumps up beside him.