The Loop

GIF: Webb Simpson hits (another) shank, but still ties Oak Hill course record

August 09, 2013

It wasn't as bad as Steve Stricker's low shank that rolled out-of-bounds at Merion, but it was probably the last thing we expected to see from a professional golfer who was riding a streak of birdies -- unless that pro is Web Simpson. When Simpson, then seven under, stood over his second shot in the fairway on the seventh hole (his 16th), he needed to par his final three holes to both break the Oak Hill course record and match the all-time lowest round in a major. But instead of striping it onto the middle of the green as he had done all day, Simpson hit a high shank that sailed around the trees before finishing short right of the green. Shanks are always pretty surprising, but in Simpson's case, they're starting to become a bit of a trend. He hit one at the 2012 BMW Championship, then again during his singles match at the 2012 Ryder Cup, and one more this year at the Players Championship.

His failure to get up-and-down dropped him back to six under, where he finished, leaving him tied with Ben Hogan and Curtis Strange for the course record. But at least we have one more amusing (at least for us everyday golfers) clip to add to Simpson-shank collection.

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