Long-Distance Watery Odyssey: Golf Ball Travels Agonizingly Far, Eventually Lands in Water on Iconic 17th Hole at Players Championship
In the thrilling world of golf, every player has faced the heart-stopping challenge of a water hazard, and recently, Alex Smalley took that tension to new heights during the Players Championship at the renowned TPC Sawgrass.
On the iconic 17th hole, famed for its island green surrounded by water, Smalley aimed for the island and watched as his tee shot took an unexpected journey. The ball bounced on the green before landing on the wooden ledge bordering the green, setting off an intense, nerve-wracking rollercoaster ride.
As the crowd's noise grew louder, Smalley's ball precariously teetered on the wooden surface, inches away from plunging into the water. After more than 10 suspenseful seconds, the ball finally dropped in, leaving a crowd of onlookers – and Smalley himself – groaning in dismay.
The incident was a significant blow to Smalley, the world No. 133, who was on track for an impressive round until then. His double bogey on the 17th led to a four-over 76 in the final round and a tie for 14th place, with Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun ahead after seven shots. The leaders would have a Monday playoff to decide the winner.
The heartbreaking shot wasn't just a setback in the standings; it could have cost Smalley a substantial sum. If he had managed a par on the 17th instead of the double bogey, he would have tied for 10th place, earning $631,250, rather than the $418,750 he received for his T-14 finish. A birdie would have earned him $706,250 – a difference of $287,500.
Smalley isn't the first, nor will he be the last, to meet his ball'sWatery demise on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Jim Best, a dedicated diver tasked with retrieving balls from the water, revealed that he collects around 70,000 balls from that body of water alone every year[2]. While the average number of golf balls retrieved annually from the 17th hole's water hazard is over 120,000, mainly from everyday golfers[1], the discrepancy may be due to differences in collection or reporting methods. During The Players Championship, an average of 49 balls are hit into the water at the 17th hole annually since 2003[4][5].
[1]https://www.si.com/golf/2017/10/16/tpc-sawgrass-17th-hole-since-1982[2]https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/golf/golf-ball-recovery-tpc-sawgrass/index.html[3]https://www.golf.com/equipment/2018/12/27/120-golf-balls-tpc-sawgrass-17th-hole-annually/[4]https://app.tpc.com/scoreboard/stats/statcenter_search.html?statCategory=scoring&courseID=72&year=All&month=All&weekNum=All&roundNum=All&tourID=PGA&groupType=player[5]https://app.tpc.com/scoreboard/stats/statcenter_search.html?statCategory=scoring&courseID=72&year=All&month=All&weekNum=All&roundNum=All&tourID=PGA&groupType=week
- Despite his impressive game, Alex Smalley's golf career took a turn during the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass when his ball on the watery, iconic 17th hole eventually dropped into the water and cost him a substantial sum.
- Every year, around 70,000 golf balls are retrieved from the watery body surrounding the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass by Jim Best, a diver, demonstrating that many golfers, including Smalley, struggle with this sport's water hazards.
- Eventually, the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass could prove to be a costly obstacle for golfers chasing victory, as demonstrated by Smalley's experience and the large number of balls that end up in the watery grave each year.
