Patrick Cantlay has made plenty of headlines over the past week because of his deliberate nature on the golf course, starting last Sunday during the final round of the Masters when Brooks Koepka made his thoughts known about Cantlay pace of play.
Today during the final round of the RBC Heritage, Cantlay made more headlines, but this time because he attempted a crazy chip shot that every TV announcer said he should not – including world No.1 Jon Rahm, who happened to be wearing a headset and providing analysis at the time.
Only two shots behind leader Jordan Spieth on the par-3 14th hole, Cantlay hit his tee shot well left of the green, 25 metres from the pin. The ensuing chip was tricky and the ball gathered speed and rolled beyond the pin and was tracking towards the water that guards the right of the green. The ball rolled, and rolled and rolled, hit the wood bulkhead and came to rest lodged between the bulkhead and the wooden pylon post.
What are the odds?! 😳 pic.twitter.com/Imji79fRhq
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) April 16, 2023
While Cantlay was trying to figure out his options – something that understandably took a while – CBS Sports announcers unanimously believed he should pick the ball up, take the penalty and take a drop.
“If you’re two [shots] behind and now you’re in this situation, are you going to take a bit more risk because you’re trying to keep pace with Spieth,” Trevor Immelman asked. “What would your process be here.”
Rahm responded: “No, you can’t. Take a drop, hopefully make a 4 and try to go on a tear the last few holes. That’s all you can do.”
Said Ian Baker-Finch: “I would not be playing that.”
Well, Cantlay did play it, and the ball ended four feet from the pin. He made the putt for bogey and remained in contention.
Incredible recovery shot by @patrick_cantlay at the 14th 🤯 pic.twitter.com/14Ttn1x6VI
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) April 16, 2023
“Well, I’m glad he went for it now,” Baker-Finch quipped.
“Welcome to being an announcer, Jon,” Immelman said to Rahm.
The world No.1 had fun with the exchange and said, “I’d rather be on the other side hopefully proving you guys wrong.”