Dog steals Paul Casey's ball at Dunhill Links

• A dog stealing his ball is 'the weirdest thing' Paul Casey has ever encountered on a golf course
• Casey noticed the dog at the 12th tee and says it followed him down the fairway
• Casey was allowed to play his stolen ball after it was recovered by a spectator

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — While lining up an eagle putt on the 12th green, Paul Casey ended up in the "ruff."

The Englishman was 20 feet from the cup on his third hole Friday at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship when a dog ran onto the green and ran off with his ball.

"It's the weirdest thing I've ever had happen on a golf course," said Casey, who was playing at Kingsbarns. "I noticed the dog on the 12th tee and he sort of followed us down the fairway before taking a real liking to my golf ball."

Casey, who is partnered with Olympic great Michael Phelps in the pro-am event, was ready to play with another ball but a spectator stopped the pooch near the 13th tee and recovered the original.

A European Tour rules official inspected both and Casey was allowed to play his original ball. He ended up with a birdie to get to 1 under.