Jordan Spieth almost ran into Lake Michigan playing shot from side of a bank

Jordan Spieth almost ran into Lake Michigan after producing a remarkable escape from the side of a bank in the opening session of the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on Friday.
Playing in the first foursomes match, Spieth was left with a tough approach from a steep slope after playing partner Justin Thomas missed the 17th green in the American pair’s match against Europe’s Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia.
The grass on the bank was also ankle high and Spieth had no sight of the green from his position well below the level of the putting surface.
👀 @JordanSpieth absolutely ridiculous!@MichelobULTRA | #ULTRAMoment pic.twitter.com/ZMIaikwXKt
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 24, 2021
Remarkably, he managed to make solid contact with a wedge and the ball dropped nicely within a few feet of the hole.
Spieth had no sight of this, however, as he lost his balance in the process of taking the shot and found himself careering down the slope towards the great lake, which lines on one side of the Wisconsin course.
It seemed the 28-year-old might not be able to stop as he neared the water but he just managed to halt his momentum in time.
“I don’t think I exaggerated that fall, you know how steep that is,” Spieth said afterwards. “Once I started moving, I was like, ‘I’ve got to keep moving until I find a flat spot’.
“It’s one of those shots that you practice as a kid for fun and you don’t ultimately want to have it.
“And the chances of it going there – you could roll a thousand balls off the green and it’s not going it stay where it was.”
An impressed Garcia said: “I was clapping. I was hoping that he wouldn’t hurt himself, but he hit an unbelievable shot.
“I didn’t think there was a chance he could get it on the green.”
Despite Spieth’s best efforts, though, Thomas missed what was a crucial putt and Rahm and Garcia won the match 3 and 1.
Latest
-
PGA Tour
Scottie Sheffler ‘loves’ match play format ahead of title defence in Austin
The top seed takes on Tom Kim, Alex Noren and Davis Riley in group one this week.
-
PGA Tour
Sam Burns hoping to return to form as he bids for Valspar Championship hat-trick
Burns has posted just one top-10 finish so far this season
-
PGA Tour
Matthew Baldwin secures maiden DP World Tour title at SDC Championship
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson finished in a five-way tie for third.
-
PGA Tour
Taylor Moore claims first PGA Tour title after anxious wait in Florida
Moore carded a closing 67 at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course.
-
PGA Tour
Justin Thomas: Prospect of shorter ball being used in elite competition ‘so bad’
The R&A and USGA announced the proposal of a Model Local Rule to give tournament organisers an option to use balls which travel around 15 yards less.
-
The Masters
Scottie Scheffler feels players will put rifts aside at Masters Champions Dinner
The 87th Masters will be the first since the emergence of LIV Golf caused a rift in the men’s game.
-
PGA Tour
Governing bodies aim to ‘bring the game along with us’ in shorter ball proposal
Advances in fitness and golf equipment technology have seen players hit the ball further and further in recent years.
-
PGA Tour
Scottie Scheffler with two-shot lead at Sawgrass Players Championship
Scheffler moved to 14 under with a 65, with Min Woo Lee just behind on 12 under.
-
PGA Tour
Alex Smalley joins elite group with latest hole-in-one at TPC Sawgrass
Hayden Buckley and Aaron Rai have also recorded aces at the Players Championship this week.
-
PGA Tour
Scottie Scheffler takes charge of final round at Players Championship
The Masters champion was on course to return to world number one.