What Happened connected the 18th Hole?
On August 16, 2026, during the last circular of the FedEx St. Jude Championship successful Memphis, Tennessee, golfer Keith Mitchell recovered himself successful a sticky—and wet—situation.
His tee changeable connected the 18th spread landed connected the writer just a fewer feet from the water’s edge. Instead of taking a punishment driblet oregon trying to deed from the awkward spot, Mitchell decided to go for it—literally.
How He Played the Shot
Here’s what Mitchell did, measurement by step:
- Took disconnected his shoes and socks
- Rolled up his sound legs
- Stepped close into the h2o hazard to code his shot
- Swung away portion lasting successful the shallow h2o
Important Callout
In golf, a water hazard (now often called a penalty area) is immoderate assemblage of h2o connected the course—like a pond, creek, oregon lake. Players can play their shot from wrong it if it’s playable, but it’s risky and precise uncommon to spot a pro really wade in!
The Twist: His Next Shot Went successful the Water
After successfully hacking retired of the hazard, Mitchell’s next thrust curved left and splashed close into the water.
Talk astir a bedewed time astatine the office!
How He Finished the Tournament
| Final Round (Round 4) | 72 | +2 (2-over) |
| Total (4 Rounds) | 279 | -1 (1-under) |
Why This Mattered: The Playoff Bubble
Mitchell started the week just wrong the apical 50 successful the FedEx Cup standings.
Only the top 50 players beforehand to the adjacent tournament: the BMW Championship.
His 1-under full near him on the bubble—meaning helium had to wait and spot however different players finished to cognize if his play would continue.
Summary
- Keith Mitchell waded into a h2o hazard connected the 18th spread during the last circular of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
- He removed his shoes, socks, and rolled up his pants to deed the shot from the water’s edge.
- His betterment changeable worked, but his adjacent thrust landed successful the water.
- He finished the tourney astatine 1-under 279, warring to enactment successful the top 50 and beforehand to the BMW Championship.
- It was a memorable, messy, and gutsy infinitesimal successful a high-pressure situation.
FAQ
Why would a golfer spell into the h2o to deed a ball?
If the shot is sitting connected the writer right adjacent to the water—and not really submerged—a subordinate can legally basal successful the water to deed it. It’s rare, but allowed!
Did Mitchell get a punishment for going successful the water?
Nope! As agelong arsenic the shot is playable and helium doesn’t crushed his nine successful the hazard earlier swinging, it’s perfectly legal.
What is the FedEx Cup and wherefore does the apical 50 matter?
The FedEx Cup is the PGA Tour’s season-long points race. The top 50 aft this tourney (the FedEx St. Jude Championship) suffice for the BMW Championship, the adjacent playoff event. Missing the chopped means your play is over.
Has immoderate different pro done this before?
Yes! A fewer pros person taken their shoes disconnected to deed from water—most famously Gary Woodland and Bubba Watson—but it’s inactive a uncommon and chaotic sight.
Where tin I ticker the video of this shot?
The archetypal nonfiction included a video embed from X (formerly Twitter). You tin hunt “Keith Mitchell h2o changeable FedEx St. Jude 2026” connected societal media oregon the PGA Tour website to spot it!
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