[PHOTO: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America]
Jhonattan Vegas may have just gotten the break of his life during round two at the PGA Championship. Or, should we say, the bRAKE of his life. We’ll explain…
After grabbing the first-round lead at Quail Hollow, Vegas showed no signs of slowing down on day two, building on his lead with a one-under first 10 holes and then climbing all the way to 10-under with birdies on the 13th and 14th. With a par at 15, Vegas now entered the famed “Green Mile” with a four-shot advantage over the next closest competitor. The exact type of cushion you want to have heading into that house of horrors.
RELATED: Jhonattan Vegas – swing better, not harder, for longer drives
Vegas got off to a fine start, there, too, with a par at the 481-metre, par-4 16th. To 17 he went, a par 3 that yields all kinds of scores depending on where you miss. Block it right and you’re fairly safe. Pull it left and it’s night-night time. Vegas blocked it right, which looked like it was headed right into the grind-out-a-par zone right of the putting surface.Â
Then, an Act of God. Vegas’ ball hit a bunker rake, which ricocheted it to the left, directly towards the hole, setting up a 33-footer for birdie:
In an alternate universe, this ball hits the rake and deflects into the bunker, the water, or into that right rough, which could bring big numbers into play. Instead, not only did it get on the green, it got better by the second. Vegas went on to two-putt for a par he might remember should he go on to break through for his first major.
RELATED: Should I leave bunker rakes inside or outside the sand?
Vegas, smartly, made to sure to pay the rake tribute when he arrived at the green. It could end up being quite the memento at Quail Hollow someday. This situation also begs the question – should you leave the bunker rakes in the bunker or outside of the bunker? Oddly enough, we asked a superintendent this question last September, and the answer was quite interesting. We know which side of the debate Vegas is on now.Â
