Pain
Players 2025: This is the most dramatic, drawn out water ball in the 17th hole's history
If you happened to miss this shot by Alex Smalley on TPC Sawgrass' 17th hole during the final round, you're going to have to see it to believe it. If you were watching, you're just here to watch it again. And we don't blame you.
Smalley arrived at the infamous island green par 3 late on Sunday with an outside (very outside) chance of winning the Players Championship. He left, like so many before him, with his heart broken.
But while we thought we've seen it all at arguably golf's most famous hole, we were wrong.
Smalley's tee shot was a bit too strong and seemed destined for the water, but then his golf ball, miraculously, held up on a wooden plank that runs around the perimeter. And it then kept holding up. And kept holding up some more. Before finally falling into the water. Have a look:
Wow. Even Oz the Mentalist would be impressed by that kind of sorcery. There have been bigger water balls there for sure, but none close to being as drawn out as that.
What a brutally painful death for that Titleist. That thing stayed on that plank for more than 10 seconds just teasing Smalley. And, with a $25 million purse on the line, it cost him a LOT more than a golf ball.
Anyway, our condolences to Smalley and Smalley backers. But if it's any consolation (probably not), that clip will live in Players Championship history.