Less than two weeks removed from the golf world being fixated on TPC Sawgrass’ island-green 17th, apparently, there’s a new water hazard to watch out for on the PGA Tour: The swimming pool off the fifth hole at Austin Country Club.
OK, so it’s not actually part of the course at this week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, but someone’s backyard became part of the story on Wednesday thanks to Rory McIlroy. The four-time Major champ got off to a rough start in his opening match against Ian Poulter, bringing new meaning to the phrase “pool play.”
Have a look at McIlroy hooking his drive off the tee and the tremendous camera work that captures the ball floating/sinking(?) into someone’s pool:
4th Hole: 3-putt from 18 feet.
5th Hole: Tee shot finds swimming pool.@IanJamesPoulter is taking advantage of Rory McIlroy's slow start and is 3UP thru 5. pic.twitter.com/rhnvApdGOo— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 24, 2021
Match play is known for its “VAGARIES,” but that’s a whole new level.
Of course, McIlroy was unable to play his ball as it lies, because not surprisingly, the pool is out of bounds. He re-teed and lost to Poulter’s par to go 3 down after five holes and ended up getting, ahem, “rinsed” by Poulter, 6&5. At this rate, the out-of-sorts McIlroy might be looking for a hot tub soon instead.
