The pair first met in the 2012 Ryder Cup when a sleepy McIlroy got his tee times mixed up and was late for his tee time. Stoll, a PGA Tour of America employee, was on hand to help McIlroy get up and to the golf course.

Rory McIlroy entered the third round of the Open Championship trailing leader Scottie Scheffler by seven shots. After the first four holes of his round, though, the Northern Irishman sat just four shots back and looked to be on his way to a miraculous round of golf.

Rory McIlroy has moved back to the UK after selling his dream home in Northern Ireland and moving to Florida, with the four-time major winner now residing in Surrey