It was maybe a completely applicable finish to a exceptional 2024 for the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
A yr that had seen him safe prime spot on this planet rankings with at least 9 wins, together with the Masters in April, additionally noticed him arrested and jailed forward of his first spherical on the PGA Championship.
It was a chaotic second and so was information that the 28-year-old had minimize his hand on damaged glass whereas getting ready Christmas dinner. The damage will pressure him to withdraw from 2025’s opening occasion, the Sentry.
However Scheffler’s mishap will not be alone in being completely weird.
Golf is filled with bewildering tales of golfers’ very unusual failures to make the primary tee. Right here, in reverse order, is the highest 10.
10. Akshay Bhatia’s dislocated elbow
It’s one factor to injure your self forward of competitors, one other to take action when celebrating a giant win.
At this yr’s Texas Open Bhatia landed a second PGA Tour title and with it secured a begin within the following week’s Masters.
He additionally ruined his possibilities on debut at Augusta Nationwide with an over-enthusiastic fist pump.
9. Ian Woosnam’s pulled muscle
Bhatia harm his arm incomes a Masters begin however Welshman Woosnam pulled a muscle when he celebrated profitable his inexperienced jacket in 1991.
“I almost burst my arm,” he mentioned.
8. Retief Goosen hit by lightning
The South African was simply 15 when struck by lightning on the course in South Africa.
He swallowed his tongue and was solely saved by fellow golfers.
The tattered garments he was carrying that day are on show on the World Golf Corridor of Fame.
7. Thomas Levet’s damaged leg
Frenchman Levet was eager to rejoice his victory within the 2011 Open de France so joined his supervisor in a leap into the lake surrounding the 18th inexperienced.
Alas it was not as deep as he had hoped and Levet fractured his leg.
6. Brett Ogle’s damaged knee
We regularly examine golfers choking down the stretch on Sunday however Aussie Ogle managed to kneecap himself on the again 9 within the 1990 Australian Open.
Whereas taking part in the seventeenth he hit a shot right into a tree, it rebounded again into his leg, he slumped to the grass, spectators utilized a beer can chilly compress, and he needed to limp to the clubhouse in agony.
He accomplished the spherical and the match however he didn’t play once more for half a yr.
5. Greg Norman’s chainsaw accident
The Aussie was well-known for locating exceptional methods of not profitable Main championships however his skill to find banana skins was nearly catastrophic in 2014 when he took to a tree at his Florida property with a chainsaw.
A department fell, knocked his arm and the noticed nearly carved its method via an artery.
He escaped with minor surgical procedure when it might have been a lot worse.
4. Mel Reid’s snake chunk
Englishwoman Mel Reid appreciated a drink at Solheim Cup events however perhaps not the potent lager-cider cocktail referred to as snakebite.
That’s as a result of in 2012 she was bitten by a snake whereas competing within the LET’s Sanya Open.
She wanted an injection and 20 capsules to finish her spherical.
3. Christiaan Bezuidenhout consuming poison
Bezuidenhout was solely two years outdated when he took a sip from a can of Coca Cola.
Unbeknown to the toddler it contained rat poison which almost killed him.
The South African survived however went on to endure nervousness and to this present day he has a stammer however Bezuidenhout has rebounded to grow to be a world prime 50 golfer.
2. Sam Torrance’s sleep strolling
Within the 1993 Ryder Cup the Scotsman contrived to sleep stroll right into a plant pot forward of the Sunday singles.
He injured each his chest and his toe however that wasn’t even the oddest ingredient of the story.
No, that was when Torrance defined that he had thought a Yukka plant was an intruder.
1. Rory McIlroy’s ruptured ligament
It may not be probably the most uncommon however McIlroy’s ankle damage, the consequence of a 5-a-side soccer match earlier than the 2015 Open, has had very long-lasting penalties.
The yr earlier than he had gained the third and fourth Majors of his profession. The 2015 Open was performed on his favorite structure, the Outdated Course, and due to his withdrawal he missed out on the possibility to experience that wave of success.
He hasn’t gained one other Main since.
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