Kevin Na in tree hassle at LIV Golf Adelaide.
LIV Golf
On his LIV Golf profile web page, Kevin Na cites “2-footers” because the shot that provides him probably the most hassle.
However within the ultimate spherical of LIV’s occasion in Adelaide, Australia, on Sunday one other problem most vexed Na: restoration photographs from the bushes.
If this story of woe sounds acquainted, that’s as a result of in 2011 Na signed for one of the vital stunning scores in PGA Tour historical past: a duodecuple-bogey 16 within the opening spherical of the Texas Open. Certainly not all 16 of these strokes are burned in your — and even Na’s — reminiscence, however maybe a few them are: his back-to-back tee photographs into almost an identical spots within the brush; his fourth shot, from the bushes and vines, that hit him, costing him one other stroke; his eleventh swipe with which he lastly, mercifully extracted his ball from the woods. In case you have been watching from residence, you might need been doing so from behind a pillow.
To Na’s credit score, he took the episode in stride and good humor. Golf is tough, yadda, yadda. Later that yr, he gained his first PGA Tour title, in his hometown of Vegas, and went on to turn into one of many Tour’s most constant gamers. Na, now 40, has racked up 5 Tour titles in all, 79 top-10 finishes and almost $38 million in profession earnings.
However in 2022, Na left that life behind when he signed with LIV Golf. Extra time at residence together with his three kids appealed to him, Na mentioned, and so did the possibility to play workforce golf. Na didn’t point out the cash however that, after all, was additionally a draw. Regardless of not ending within the high 30 of the person standings in LIV’s first two seasons, Na nonetheless pocketed almost $6.2 million to associate with no matter meaty signing bonus he had obtained. This yr has been higher for Na, however solely marginally. He’s twenty fifth within the participant standings, however the workforce he captains, the Iron Heads, are in final place within the 13-team league.
How Kevin Na made a 16 on the 2011 Texas Open and nonetheless laughs about it
However Down Underneath this previous weekend, issues have been lastly trying up. On the eve of the third and ultimate spherical, Na’s Iron Heads have been within the hunt, only one off the lead, powered by Na’s second-round seven-under 65. On Sunday, Na opened with a bogey 6 on the tenth gap (LIV’s format features a shotgun begin), however erased the sluggish begin with birdies at 12 and 18. Then he actually acquired going, operating off 4 straight birdies from 5-8 to get to 5 underneath for the spherical with only one gap to play.
After which? Effectively, it wasn’t fairly the Texas Open bloodbath, however it wasn’t fairly, both.
After tugging his tee shot left of the green, Na discovered his ball in a sandy space and pinned in by bushes. Worse but, his orb was sitting in a fan’s footprint.
“I’m so livid,” Na mentioned of his grim lie. “That is f—ing bull—-.”
To which Na’s caddie, Kenny Harms, mentioned, “Deep breaths.”
Na sized up a few shot choices however didn’t waste time enjoying, thumping an iron into the sand with the purpose of splitting the bushes and knocking his ball again into the green.
He was unsuccessful.
“F—ing bull—-,” Na mentioned once more earlier than slapping his bag in anger.
Na’s subsequent try, a seemingly extra manageable chip again to the green, fared no higher.
Just a few beats after a fan mentioned, “One in every of us,” Na swung, however his ball hit a small signal and ricocheted again at him.
Seething, Na let only a few seconds elapse earlier than enjoying his fourth shot — one other restoration chip that, this time, scurried out to the green with Na fast-walking after it.
The excellent news: Na would keep away from a duodecuple bogey. The unhealthy information: He nonetheless made a double that dropped him again to 3 underneath for the spherical. Na in the end completed thirty fourth within the particular person occasion whereas his Iron Heads completed sixth.
