We’ve all been there before: you just piped your drive and have a green-light special from a comfortable yardage in the middle of the fairway. The next thing you know, you’re hosel-rocketing one into the woods.
At least we have the excuse that we are not professionals. So to celebrate National Mulligan Day, here are 10 shots the pros wish they could take back.
Henrik Stenson
We get this shank list started with this beauty courtesy of Henrik Stenson during the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. In what should’ve been a simple short iron from 140 yards, the big Swede caught the hosel solid forcing the cameraman to quickly pan over to the bushes 30-feet to the right of the gallery.
Scrambling to find the ball, he did what any good cameraman would do and focused in on exactly where the gallery was running. It was a team effort to make something this bad looks this good. Do yourself a favor and don’t watch the replay.
Hunter Mahan
Remember Hunter Mahan? Here he is at the 2013 WGC-Match Play playing the fifth hole, but instead, his ball ended up on the sixth tee. Bold strategy in our opinion. It was so bad, even Hunter looked surprised.
Paula Creamer
If you thought women were exempt from this list, think again. Here, Paula Creamer shows us how not to get out of the sand by blading one over the green in the total wrong direction. Anytime you hear a commentator say “I hope that didn’t hit her caddie,” you know it’s good.
Steve Stricker
This hosel rocket from Steve Stricker continues to top the charts. During the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, a simple lay-up turned into a nightmare. The best part is the replay with protracer, obviously!
Tiger Woods
This chili-dipper from Tiger Woods is as rock bottom as it gets. Sporting his Victory Red, the 14-time major looks like an amateur at your company outing. Golf is hard.
Jon Rahm
Rising star Jon Rahm has got loads of potential, but this cold shank during the 2016 Quicken Loans was not one of his finest moments. If there was a protracer hall of fame, this deserves to be in it.
Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter’s tee shot at the 2015 Honda Classic is by far the most fashionable on this list. The IJP Design purple and plaid ensemble is the perfect complement to this cold shank. If you’re going to hit it off the hosel, you might as well look good doing it.
Ricky Barnes
This gem (with pro tracer!) from Ricky Barnes occurred during the 2017 Byron Nelson. Isn’t it amazing that somebody who shot 64 the day before can look like they’ve never swung a golf club in their lives?
Justin Rose
Justin Rose’s screamer he hit out of the fairway bunker on the 72nd hole at the 2015 Memorial is compelling for a few reasons. One is that he was in the lead. Two, he clocked a spectator right in the head. Three, he still made par! Unfortunately for Rose, he went on to lose in a playoff.
Webb Simpson
Webb Simpson and shanks go together like peanut butter and jelly. There have been countless instances where the hosel bug has bitten the former U.S. Open winner, but this one from the 2012 BMW Championship just about sums them up. Wow, that’s awful.
