It’s hard to fully explain the feeling one gets when watching a tour pro hit a shank. We’re accustomed to watching the world’s best players hit every shot more pure than most of us can dream about hitting. So when we saw Rory McIlroy clank one off the scoreboard at the US PGA Championship warming up for his third round on Saturday, it was again equal shocking and riveting.
No, this wasn’t a tournament-round shank, which we’ve seen from time to time over the past couple years. But this shank from Rory at Bellerive Country Club was as bad as we’ve seen. And though we’ve seen some lesser-known players hit shanks, we can’t remember a more high-profile player like Rory hitting a shank like this.
Avert the eyes … or hone in:
Rory with the shank off the scoreboard with a wedge in his hand. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/pmODtmpFUW
— By The Flagstick (@ByTheFlagstick) August 11, 2018
Rory! Shankapotomus! #ThisIsMajor pic.twitter.com/sIavhwX6aF
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) August 11, 2018