Masters 2021
Masters 2021: Si Woo Kim and Charl Schwartzel’s horrifically botched handshake continues a tradition unlike any other
Golf has a long, tumultuous history with hand-to-hand affirmation. From handshakes to high-fives, even golf’s most steely-eyed assassins have gotten the yips when it comes time to celebrate a big chip-in or wrap up the round with a firm grip. Scientists and psychologists alike have strived for understanding but haven't been able to stem the tide, which continued on Friday when Si Woo Kim and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel added this catastrophe to the ever-growing catalog. Viewer discretion is advised.
Absolutely brutal. As any man can tell you, there is no greater terror on planet earth than going in for a fist bump as the other guy pulls out the palm. There is no time to course correct. You have to pick your lane. You have to take a leap of faith. You have to trust your instincts and hope you read the room right. If you didn’t? May God have mercy on your soul.
That horrifying purgatory between bump and shake is precisely where Kim and Schwartzel collided on Friday, and the results, as you can see, were grisly. Thankfully, however, the support group is deep and it is robust. So take heart, gentleman. You may be hurt, you may be humbled, but you will never walk alone.