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The Players Championship tends to be one of the more intriguing events on the PGA Tour’s calendar thanks in no small part to the unforgiving nature of TPC Sawgrass.
The course is best known for the imposing island green at the 17th hole that has produced plenty of drama over the years.
That includes the beautiful ace Hayden Buckley sunk shortly after the tournament kicked off this week, as well as the disastrous quadruple-bogey Nick Watney had to jot down on his scorecard on Thursday.
However, TPC Sawgrass also features plenty of other ways for players to ruin their round.
Aaron Wise learned that the hard way on the first day of action when he somehow managed to outdo Watney on the 18th hole by hitting three consecutive drives into the water that flanks the left side of the fairway en route to recording a sextuple-bogey.
It’s official, I’m better at golf than Aaron Wise pic.twitter.com/v6N1GANDiK
— Degenerate Dungeon (@GCNSports) March 9, 2023
Jordan Spieth, on the other hand, posted a respectable 69 during the first round on Monday, but he still had a bit of work to do if he wanted to move to the top of the leaderboard.
Spieth got off to a solid start on Friday by recording a birdie on each of the first two holes, but it was all downhill from there.
The man who headed into The Players Championship ranked 15th in the world failed to record another birdie heading into the last hole of his round, and the two bogies and two double-bogies he racked up put him uncomfortably close to the cut line.
Spieth (who started the day on the back nine) certainly didn’t do himself any favors with his drive off of the 9th tee, as he ripped a pretty vicious hook that appeared destined for the water on the right side of the hole.
However, things took a very unexpected turn thanks to the unfortunate fan who was struck by the ball, which bounced back into the fairway to not only save Spieth a penalty stroke but set him up for the chip he sank for eagle to ensure he’ll be playing this weekend.
What are the odds?! @JordanSpieth’s tee shot was heading into the water before his ball hit a fan and ricocheted back in the fairway.
It likely would have made the difference in Spieth making the cut @THEPLAYERSChamp. https://t.co/W3dqAnl30I pic.twitter.com/IRiHzRS30N
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2023
Spieth also went out of his way to track down the fan who arguably saved his round, and the (apparently unscathed) spectator received a signed glove for his troubles.
@JordanSpieth made sure to check on the fan and gave him a glove @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/pNn2o7FHZr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2023
At least it all worked out in the end.