Rory McIlroy left stunned as old golf ball appears while playing shot at The Open

Rory McIlroy was left stunned after an old golf ball appeared from underneath his own ball when playing his second shot into the par-4 11th during the third round of The Open.

McIlroy, 36, flung his tee shot way right into the gallery and he was fortunate to be left with a clean lie on the trampled down grass.

Or at least the World No.2 and everyone else thought it was a clean lie.

After thumping a wedge into the back of his ball, an old ball from one of the members appeared from underneath the turf and bounced into his feet. 

McIlroy looked down and picked up the ball while his own TaylorMade TP5 was still in the air. 

The Northern Irishman came up well shy of the green with his approach shot from just inside 140 yards. 

McIlroy then chipped up short of the pin and he would miss his par attempt from 20 feet.

It marked his first bogey of the round. 

A golf fan went to pick up the old ball that magically appeared from underneath McIlroy's shot. 

It was an old Titleist No.4. 

Watch what happened during McIlroy's second shot into the 11th here: 

McIlroy raced out the gate on Saturday with three birdies on the first four holes.

Despite making bogey on 11, he immediately bounced back by draining a 56 footer for eagle on the par-5 12th. 

McIlroy is still some way off the pace but he's still his best to mount a late charge in front of his adoring home fans. 

Keep up to speed with live updates from third round of The Open.