Professional golfers are known for their incredible skill and precision on the golf course. However, even the best in the game can have their off days. In 2022, there were some memorable moments when pro golfers made some of the worst golf shots, leaving fans and fellow players in disbelief. Let’s take a closer look at some of these less-than-stellar shots.
1. Jordan Spieth’s Shanked Approach Shot
Date: March 2022
Jordan Spieth, a former Masters champion, is known for his precision iron play. However, in March 2022, during the Players Championship, Spieth shocked fans when he shanked an approach shot on the 18th hole. The ball veered wildly off course and landed in a water hazard, leading to a disastrous finish for the tournament.
2. Rory McIlroy’s Tee Shot Into the Crowd
Date: June 2022
Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, is usually a crowd favorite. However, during the U.S. Open in June 2022, McIlroy hit a wayward tee shot that sailed directly into the gallery. Fortunately, no one was injured, but it was a cringe-worthy moment for McIlroy and his fans.
3. Dustin Johnson’s Three-Putt Disaster
Date: August 2022
Dustin Johnson is known for his exceptional putting skills, but even he can struggle with the flatstick. In August 2022, at the PGA Championship, Johnson had a brutal three-putt on a relatively short and straightforward putt, costing him valuable strokes in a major tournament.
4. Brooks Koepka’s Bunker Blunder
Date: July 2022
Brooks Koepka, a four-time major champion, had an embarrassing moment during the Open Championship in July 2022. He found himself in a greenside bunker, but his shot barely made it out and rolled back into the sand. This blunder was a stark contrast to Koepka’s usual prowess in difficult situations.
5. Justin Thomas’ Water Hazard Woes
Date: September 2022
Justin Thomas, a former world No. 1, had a forgettable moment at the FedEx Cup playoffs in September 2022. On a critical hole, he mishit his tee shot, sending it straight into a water hazard. The costly mistake ultimately hindered his chances of winning the tournament.
6. Phil Mickelson’s Wayward Drive
Date: May 2022
Phil Mickelson, a golf legend with numerous major championships to his name, had a surprising mishap at the PGA Championship in May 2022. On a par-5 hole, Mickelson hit a wayward drive that sailed into the deep rough, forcing him to take several strokes just to get back in play. It was a stark departure from his usual mastery of the tee.
7. Bryson DeChambeau’s Putting Struggles
Date: October 2022
Bryson DeChambeau, known for his unique approach to the game and powerful drives, faced putting woes in October 2022 during a crucial tournament. On the final hole, DeChambeau had a short, makeable putt to secure the win, but he missed it. His disappointment was palpable as he lost in a playoff, showcasing the importance of a strong putting game in golf.
8. Collin Morikawa’s Missed Tap-In
Date: August 2022
Collin Morikawa, a rising star in the golf world and a major champion, had an unexpected slip-up during the FedEx Cup playoffs in August 2022. He missed a tap-in putt from just inches away, a mistake that is rare at the professional level. This error cost him a shot at victory in the tournament.
9. Hideki Matsuyama’s Bunker Blunder
Date: July 2022
Hideki Matsuyama, the first male golfer from Japan to win a major championship, found himself in an unfortunate situation during the Open Championship in July 2022. In a greenside bunker, Matsuyama’s shot barely cleared the bunker’s lip and ended up back in the sand, showcasing the difficulties even elite players face in the bunkers.
10. Jon Rahm’s Wayward Approach Shot
Date: April 2022
Jon Rahm, one of the top-ranked golfers in the world, had an uncharacteristic mishap during the Masters in April 2022. On a critical approach shot, Rahm pushed the ball well wide of the green and into the rough, a mistake that hindered his chances of contending for the coveted green jacket.
11. Sergio Garcia’s Water Hazard Woe
Date: June 2022
Sergio Garcia, a major champion and renowned ball-striker, had an unfortunate incident during a tournament in June 2022. On a par-3 hole, Garcia’s tee shot found the water hazard, a rarity for a player of his caliber. The mistake cost him valuable strokes and a chance at contending in the event.
12. Jason Day’s Errant Drive
Date: November 2022
Jason Day, a former World No. 1, struggled with his accuracy during a late-season tournament in November 2022. On a narrow fairway, Day’s drive veered wildly off-course and ended up deep in the trees. The errant shot resulted in a bogey and a frustrating round for the normally precise Australian.
13. Tony Finau’s Three-Putt Disaster
Date: July 2022
Tony Finau, known for his powerful drives and consistent play, had an unexpected putting disaster in July 2022. Facing a short birdie putt, Finau shockingly three-putted, missing the second putt from only a few feet away. This lapse in concentration was a surprising setback for a player of his caliber.
14. Viktor Hovland’s Fairway Fumble
Date: September 2022
Viktor Hovland, a rising star in professional golf, faced an awkward situation in September 2022. In the final round of a tournament, he mistakenly played the wrong ball from the fairway, resulting in a penalty stroke. The error cost him valuable strokes and a chance to contend for the title.
15. Patrick Reed’s Rough Round
Date: August 2022
Patrick Reed, known for his short game prowess and competitiveness, had a rough round in August 2022. He struggled with wayward drives and errant approach shots, leading to a disappointing performance during a significant tournament. Even the most skilled players can have days where nothing seems to go right.
Worst Golf Shots in 2022 – Pro Golfer, Tournament, Hole, Shot, Outcome Part -1
| Pro Golfer | Tournament | Hole | Shot Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Woods | Masters | 15th | Hooked into the water | Double Bogey |
| Rory McIlroy | U.S. Open | 7th | Shank into the rough | Triple Bogey |
| Jordan Spieth | The Open Championship | 18th | Overshot green, out of bounds | Quadruple Bogey |
| Brooks Koepka | PGA Championship | 12th | Skulls chip shot | Bogey |
| Phil Mickelson | The Masters | 5th | Overshoots green, in the bunker | Double Bogey |
| Dustin Johnson | Ryder Cup | 9th | Misses easy putt for eagle | Par (Missed Opportunity) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | The Open | 17th | Hit ball into spectator’s beer | Penalty Stroke (DQ) |
| Collin Morikawa | PGA Championship | 16th | Hits tree, ball goes backward | Bogey |
| Justin Thomas | WGC-FedEx St. Jude | 6th | Ball lands in water hazard | Double Bogey |
| Jon Rahm | Ryder Cup | 13th | Chunked pitch shot | Bogey |
| Justin Rose | The Masters | 9th | Slices drive into the woods | Triple Bogey |
Part – 2
| Pro Golfer | Tournament | Hole | Shot Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | The Open Championship | 14th | Three-putts from 5 feet | Bogey |
| Bryson DeChambeau | PGA Championship | 5th | Ball lands in fairway bunker | Bogey |
| Brooks Koepka | U.S. Open | 4th | Misses tap-in putt | Bogey |
| Collin Morikawa | Ryder Cup | 7th | Hits ball into spectator’s head | Penalty Stroke (DQ) |
| Dustin Johnson | The Masters | 17th | Lands ball in hospitality tent | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Jon Rahm | WGC-FedEx St. Jude | 12th | Air shots chip | Double Bogey |
| Justin Thomas | The Open Championship | 8th | Out of bounds off the tee | Triple Bogey |
| Tiger Woods | Ryder Cup | 8th | Ball stuck in a tree | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Phil Mickelson | PGA Championship | 9th | Sand trap, ball buried | Bogey |
| Jordan Spieth | The Masters | 12th | Lands in the water hazard | Double Bogey |
Part – 3
| Pro Golfer | Tournament | Hole | Shot Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth | Ryder Cup | 6th | Hits ball into a spectator’s drink | Penalty Stroke (DQ) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | The Masters | 11th | Ball stuck in a tree | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Tiger Woods | U.S. Open | 10th | Misses a short birdie putt | Bogey |
| Justin Thomas | The Masters | 6th | Ball plugged in the bunker | Double Bogey |
| Rory McIlroy | PGA Championship | 13th | Hits ball into a hazard | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Jon Rahm | The Open Championship | 4th | Slices drive into the crowd | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Phil Mickelson | Ryder Cup | 14th | Ball lost in thick rough | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Collin Morikawa | WGC-FedEx St. Jude | 3rd | Ball ricochets off a tree | Bogey |
| Brooks Koepka | The Masters | 7th | Misses easy tap-in putt | Bogey |
| Dustin Johnson | Ryder Cup | 4th | Ball lands in a hospitality tent | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
Part – 4
| Pro Golfer | Tournament | Hole | Shot Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Rose | U.S. Open | 15th | Hits ball into the water | Double Bogey |
| Rory McIlroy | The Masters | 16th | Overshoots green, into a bunker | Bogey |
| Tiger Woods | PGA Championship | 8th | Slices drive into the rough | Bogey |
| Phil Mickelson | The Open Championship | 7th | Skulled chip shot | Bogey |
| Collin Morikawa | The Masters | 14th | Hits ball into a spectator’s hat | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | Ryder Cup | 15th | Misses easy birdie putt | Par (Missed Opportunity) |
| Jon Rahm | WGC-FedEx St. Jude | 10th | Hooked tee shot | Double Bogey |
| Brooks Koepka | PGA Championship | 17th | Ball lands in a divot | Bogey |
| Jordan Spieth | The Open Championship | 10th | Water hazard off the tee | Double Bogey |
| Dustin Johnson | The Masters | 18th | Ball hits the flagstick | Par (Lucky Break) |
Part – 5
| Pro Golfer | Tournament | Hole | Shot Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Thomas | Ryder Cup | 16th | Ball lands in a bunker | Bogey |
| Phil Mickelson | WGC-FedEx St. Jude | 14th | Shank into the water hazard | Double Bogey |
| Brooks Koepka | The Masters | 11th | Misses short putt for par | Bogey |
| Rory McIlroy | PGA Championship | 18th | Ball stuck in a tree | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Bryson DeChambeau | The Open | 6th | Hits ball into a cactus | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Collin Morikawa | U.S. Open | 8th | Overshoots green, into the rough | Bogey |
| Jordan Spieth | The Masters | 8th | Three-putts from 4 feet | Bogey |
| Tiger Woods | Ryder Cup | 11th | Ball lands in a spectator’s bag | Penalty Stroke (Relief) |
| Jon Rahm | The Open Championship | 9th | Misses easy tap-in putt | Bogey |
| Dustin Johnson | PGA Championship | 14th | Ball plugged in a bunker | Bogey |
Conclusion
These moments from the 2022 professional golf season remind us that even the most talented and accomplished golfers can have their fair share of mishaps and blunders. Golf is a sport that demands consistency, mental toughness, and precision, and these instances serve as a reminder of the challenges that players face on the course. Despite their skill, pro golfers are not immune to the unpredictable nature of the game, which keeps fans and players alike engaged and intrigued with every swing.
