The worst shot seen on tour/televised coverage

[duffer888]

The worst I've seen was a tee shot by Henrik Stenson in this year's WGC match play event. He was hitting a fairway wood, and it looked on the replays like he actually hit the ball off the hosel. It just went low and left into the brush. He won the match anyway.

Stenson must have a knack for shanks. He hit nasty one dead right into the bushes on Sunday at Tiger's Target Challenge tourney last year.

[TommyD69]

I remember Dave Stockton flat topping one off the tee at a senior tour event about 12 years ago.

The announcers were speachless!

[useless149149]

Did Mickelson do something similar at the US Open (except his ball went about 10 yeard and stayed in the rough!)? Or am I just imagining it?

No I definitely remember it. He has had multiple ugly tops out of US Open rough.

[bogeyhitter25]

I can't remember who, where, and when this was but it was about a 200-yard par 3. The gallery was about 100 yards right of the green. A guy hit his tee shot that cleared the gallery. I think he tripled the hole.

[Magnus]

How about Woody Austin's two shot sequence on the par 5 18th hole at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans earlier this year. He topped a hybrid out of the rough for his second, which went about 15 feet in front of him, and then hit it again - about 30 yrds right of the green into the lake - made a double bogey 7 when he needed a birdie to tie for the win...pretty bad shot under the circumstances.

[Fraser]

Worst I've ever seen on television was the various charity tourneys that Charles Barkley plays in. You'll see footage of him hitting great shots on the range and then he'll go to the course and the "hitch" rears it's ugly head.

His swings seem to be a big hit on YouTube. Here is one of the many videos!

Makes you wonder why he bothers with a backswing!

[FortAsel]

Did Mickelson do something similar at the US Open (except his ball went about 10 yeard and stayed in the rough!)? Or am I just imagining it?

I think that that was at the 72nd hole... but I'm not sure.

[Jay-Bird]

Andy Bean tapping in with the grip of the putter - and losing because of the penalty!

the video is here:
on the USGA's site there are a ton of great 'rules videos'
scroll down about 3/5 and watch the one that starts " Rule 14-1 requires that the ball be struck at with the head of the club..."

It's int "Archived Video Vignettes" link
www.usga.org/playing/rules/video_archive.html

[kafka01]

How about Woody Austin's two shot sequence on the par 5 18th hole at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans earlier this year. He topped a hybrid out of the rough for his second, which went about 15 feet in front of him, and then hit it again - about 30 yrds right of the green into the lake - made a double bogey 7 when he needed a birdie to tie for the win...pretty bad shot under the circumstances.

I cant really review a big history of bad shots in my memory since i havent been addicted long enough to this game - BUT these two shots actually came to my mind too when this topic came up.

And one shank from Sergio (i think US Open - first round) right down the cliffs... Or how about Mickelsons 4times attempt to hit the green at the same event

[Thrash13]

The worst shot I've ever seen on LIVE television was a drive from Bubba Watson. It was either 2006 or 2007, I can't remember exactly. He was either tied for the lead or in the lead by himself with a few holes to go, and he completely shanked one off the tee. It might have hit a tree or something, but it only ended up going 100 yards or so (maybe less). He went on to double or triple bogey the hole and lost the event. Under the circumstances, it was definitely the worst I've seen.

[albatross]

How about Woody Austin's two shot sequence on the par 5 18th hole at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans earlier this year. He topped a hybrid out of the rough for his second, which went about 15 feet in front of him, and then hit it again - about 30 yrds right of the green into the lake - made a double bogey 7 when he needed a birdie to tie for the win...pretty bad shot under the circumstances.

For sure, Woody has had 3 or 4 bad flubs. Like he puts it "he's a choking dog"

[shredfit]

Four or Five years ago I saw Tiger shank one off the tee so bad the commentators didn't know what to say. The ball didn't even reach the fairway. I remember one of them saying, "Wow, that was uncharacteristic".

Then, in typical Tiger fashion, he punches the ball out to the fairway, about 190 yards left. Then, sticks a 7 iron within about 15 ft and makes the putt for par.

[kafka01]

Andy Bean tapping in with the grip of the putter - and losing because of the penalty!

WOW - there are really some sick rules out there. I mean even if you are aware of the rules you still can make so many mistakes which can cost you you arent even aware off (unless you put in one hour daily to do case study on golf rulings). But now with my new acquired knowledge i cant wait to get out there and become the penalizer

[iacas]

The worst shot I've ever seen on LIVE television was a drive from Bubba Watson. It was either 2006 or 2007, I can't remember exactly. He was either tied for the lead or in the lead by himself with a few holes to go, and he completely shanked one off the tee. It might have hit a tree or something, but it only ended up going 100 yards or so (maybe less). He went on to double or triple bogey the hole and lost the event. Under the circumstances, it was definitely the worst I've seen.

I remember that one. He was looking to make 3 and he made like a 6 instead.

[bigfred31]

van de velde third shot on 18 at carnoustie. you could tell he decelled on it. i know that rough that year in 1999 was brutal but he should have advanced more then 20 yards.

[play4him]

I can remember seeing Billy Casper shank one off a Par 3 hole back in the day. Not a pretty sight.

[Chas]

Phil's third wedge shot on the Par 5 13th at the U.S. Open this year (Torrey Pines) from the same spot. He'd just attacked the pin twice from short yardage to an elevated green with a steeply sloping false front (pin near the front), and both times the ball had spun back off the front edge and rolled down the slope to his feet. He had clearly decided to hit the third one deeper into the green (bigger swing) but chunked the shot so that the result was identical to the first two - ball ended up at his feet again. Under the circumstances, a remarkably bad shot for Phil to make.

Three-putting after his fourth wedge to deep gave him a nine. Sorry Phil, you're still the best in the game with a wedge in your hand, but it's comforting for some of us to know that anyone can have a melt-down like that on a rare occasion.

[Fraser]