Since we only see big-time links golf once or twice a year, we're often treated to some strange happenings that we rarely witness at regular tour stops. Crazy lies, putter from everywhere, 30-mph wind gusts, brown turf, backwards bunker shots, etc., etc. That said, what happened to Will Zalatoris' ball on Thursday at the Scottish Open is something we don't think we've seen on any style of golf course, ever.
At the Renaissance Club's par-5 16th, which is playing more like a par 6 on Thursday afternoon due to high winds, Zalatoris and playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick both failed to reach the green in three shots (!!). Fitzpatrick, fresh off his U.S. Open win, was able to chip his fourth from just short of the green to six feet. Zalatoris, the U.S. Open runner-up, was short right, and he played a high chip that caught the slope and began motoring toward the hole.
While it appeared to be tracking, it came in a little too hot and lipped out, rolling out to six feet and stopping directly on top of Fitzpatrick's ball mark, which is a large poker chip. You can't even make it up. Pure sorcery:
This, at least for me and I'm sure many of you, is a first (though there will be plenty of "I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!" from a few hardos). I could see a ball maybe stopping on a dime (literally) or a quarter, but stopping dead on a poker chip and somehow staying put is something straight out of a Harry Potter movie. You're a wizard, Willy!
"This hole hasn't gotten any weirder," Zalatoris could be heard saying on the broadcast." Here's the full clip:
Not to go full gambling guy, but I can't think of a bigger omen for Zalatoris than his ball stopping on the POKER CHIP marker of the guy who just beat him by one shot in the U.S. Open. Can you say, reversal of fortune? If you don't bet Zalatoris next week, that's on you. The gambling gods work in very mysterious ways.
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