From Alison Lee picking up her ball to Dustin Johnson three-putting the 72nd hole at the U.S. Open, here’s our list of the 10 “Oops” moments on 2015.
From Alison Lee picking up her ball to Dustin Johnson three-putting the 72nd hole at the U.S. Open, here’s our list of the 10 “Oops” moments on 2015.
Rory McIlroy’s second shot on the par-5 eighth hole during his second round of the WGC-Cadillac at Doral found the water, and then so did his 3-iron. The then-No. 1 player in the world tomahawked his club into the deep blue of the Blue Monster, prompting Donald Trump to send a diver to retrieve it. McIlroy ended up playing his final round with the club back in the bag. (Getty Images)
There are plenty of words in Steve Williams’ new book, “Out of the Rough,” but one got the majority of the attention. In an excerpt, Williams wrote that he “felt uneasy about bending down to pick up [Tiger Woods’] discarded club – it was like I was his slave.” Williams later said that it “never crossed his mind” to reconsider his use of the word slave, trying to describe its different context in New Zealand’s culture. Oops. (Getty Images)
A not-so-shortcut ended up delaying third-round action at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. A tournament van transporting players to the course got lost en route. Angela Stanford, who was aboard the van and just one shot off the lead, documented the unexpected detour on social media. When Stanford got to the course, she shot 76. (Getty Images)
Peter Malnati picked up his first PGA Tour victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship in November, but he’s likely best known for this hazardous play in the first round of the WinCo Foods Portland Open in August. After finding the water, Malnati removed his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants, took a mighty swing, covered himself in mud, and had the ball roll right back in the water. The mishap prompted Malnati to yell, “Are you kidding me?! All of that ... for THAT?!” Yep. (Getty Images)
A week before the inaugural East Lake Cup, Georgia senior Lee McCoy tried to imitate the swing of Bulldogs coach Chris Haack, who had been dealing with back and leg injuries. McCoy got close to the ball at address, hunched over and “tried to swing like a 90-year-old.” In the process, McCoy dislocated his rib. “Instant karma,” he said. “Unbelievable. Never seen anything like it. Literally, in a matter of 15 seconds after making fun of the guy, I’m feeling the exact same pain. Haack was giving me more grief than you can possibly imagine.”
In the span of 15 months, Martin Kaymer went from U.S. Open champion to off the PGA Tour. Kaymer lost his card in August when he failed to make the FedEx Cup playoffs and thus failed to play the minimum number of events (15) to retain his status. He will be allowed to return to the Tour as a full member in 2016-17. (Getty Images)
Only two kinds of golfers would think to play a different ball off the tee: Amateurs worried they won’t clear the water ... and Phil Mickelson. During a match with partner Zach Johnson on Friday at the Presidents Cup, Mickelson tried to “put a firmer ball in play” to gain extra yardage at the par-5 seventh. Thanks to a quirk in the rules, the bright idea ended up costing the U.S. two holes. Mickelson and Johnson would go on to halve Adam Scott and Jason Day, with the penalty looming large. (AP Images)
Rory McIlroy was set to defend his Open Championship title when he ruptured a ligament in his ankle during a soccer “kickabout” with friends. McIlroy would miss the the Open and WGC-Bridgestone, returning just in time to watch Jordan Spieth pass him for the No. 1 ranking in the world at the PGA. Now, he’s looking up at both Spieth and Day. (Instagram)
For whatever reason, Alison Lee thought her putt on the 17th hole at the Solheim Cup had been conceded. Regardless of whatever happened, and whether her European opponents, Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull, should have handled the situation differently, it was Lee’s decision to pick up her ball that kicked off Gimmegate. When the U.S. rallied to win the team event, tears turned from sad to joyous. Tap in your putts, kids. (Getty Images)
Speaking of short putts, Dustin Johnson was 13 feet away from his first major championship and then 4 feet from an 18-hole playoff. Instead, DJ’s three-putt on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open meant that he would leave Chambers Bay empty-handed, especially after he failed to show up for the trophy presentation. (Getty Images)