This is called a “comma” in golf.
Terror of amateurs, this crazy bad luck, where the ball goes into the hole before going around and coming out, happened to Wyndham Clark on the 72nd and last hole of one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year, while the world number 5 fought for victory.
Second in this Players Championship, often considered the “fifth” Major of the season, one shot behind Scottie Scheffler, world number 1, Clark advanced to hole 18 of his fourth round with the obligation to make birdie for push his opponent of the day into the playoff.
It was fortunate that he put iron in hand with a ball placed a little more than 5 m from the flag.
All that was needed was to convert the try for the winner of the US Open 2023 even if this final putt remained very complicated to put, and even more so under pressure.
“Still shocked”
After his usual routine, the 30-year-old American set off.
Perfectly heading in the right direction, his ball, a bit too fast, entered the hole from the left edge, before going around it and coming out from the right edge, under the stunned eyes of the golfer, and thousands of spectators gathered around the green.
“I don’t even know how that ball didn’t go in.”
I'm still a little beside myself, still shocked that the ball didn't go in,” lamented Wyndham Clark at the end of the tournament, still stunned by the turn of events.
Unreal.
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— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024
A game event that came at the best time for Scottie Scheffler.
Author of a magnificent fourth round (64, -20 total) with a sublime chip landed on the 4, the winner last week of the Arnold Palmer Invitational awaited the end of the tournament from the training practice where he learned his victory.
At the same time, he becomes the first player to retain his title on this prestigious Players.
“I hit a lot of good shots, did a lot of good things this week and it's nice to finish at the top... It's hard enough to win a Players, so to make it two is incredibly special,” commented Scheffler, who also suffered from neck pain throughout the tournament.
At 64 in 64 seconds.
Relive Scottie Scheffler's impressive final round @THEPLAYERS.
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— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2024
On the French side, Matthieu Pavon was the only qualified representative this week.
The French golfer unfortunately did not manage to make the cut.