For any golfer, hitting a wild, errant tee shot is embarrassing.
But for one PGA Tour pro, he didn’t just spray a shot way off-line. It was so bad, the police had to get involved.
During the final round of this weekend’s 3M Open, PGA Tour vet Jhonattan Vegas’ didn’t just stray off of the fairway.
It landed in the arms of a police officer!
You have the right to remain still 👮♂️
Leader @JhonattanVegas' tee shot lands on the arm of a police officer @3MOpen. pic.twitter.com/IVkxzQDhqc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 28, 2024
Vegas pulled his tee shot well left of the fairway – quickly yelling “Fore!”
His ball bounced and settled on the left arm of a police officer working security at the event whose arm was resting against his torso. The ball stayed right there until Vegas arrived, who was then entitled to free relief within a club length of where the officer was situated.
After his drop, Vegas advanced his second shot 277 yards into a front greenside bunker. Although he couldn’t convert a 7-footer for birdie, he did walk away with a par.
“That was wild, right?” Vegas said afterward. “Out of all the places that the ball can go to, to find a policeman. Luckily he was standing in the right place, I was able to get a good drop and have somewhat of a clear shot to the green. It’s just kind of one of those crazy stuff that happens in golf.”
According to PGA Tour rules officials, the ball landing in the officer’s arms actually helped Vegas avoid a penalty.
“That’s a big difference that the ball stayed in his arm … because if it would’ve dropped, he’s going to play it from that location,” added Mark Dusbabek, PGA TOUR senior director Lead TV Rules & Video Analyst. “However since it was in his arm, it has not found its place on the ground, so he gets to estimate the spot below where that ball is, and then he gets a club length to create a relief area from that lead point. It’s a big break for him.”
According to a recap of the even from the PGA Tour website, the officer earned some comic relief as well.
“I was standing just doing security, and all of a sudden, I heard people saying, ‘Watch out,’ so I started heading for the grass and all of a sudden it’s right in here,” the officer remarked, motioning to his breadbasket. “They just told me not to move … I think everyone was just in a state of shock; they said, ‘Hold tight,’ and the golfer came in and he was like, ‘I’m sorry, man.’ Shook hands and he grabbed it, and I got out of the way.”