[wpFWNoIt]

Na sets PGA mark with 16 shots on par-4

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/...-4-hole-041411
Updated Apr 14, 2011 11:24 PM ET
SAN ANTONIO (AP)

J.J. Henry and former British Open champion Stewart Cink share the Texas Open lead after shooting first-round 5-under 67s on a day the spotlight belonged to Kevin Na during a historic meltdown on No. 9.

NIGHTMARE NINTH

See Kevin Na's record 16 on the par-4 ninth hole at the Texas Open.


Na set a PGA Tour low Thursday with a 16 on the par-4 ninth, chopping his way through a nightmarish hole during an otherwise solid first round. The South Korean-born American was a combined 4 under on the other 17 holes to finish at 8-over 80.
Adam Scott, riding the momentum of his runner-up finish at the Masters, began his defense of last year's Texas Open championship strong and was a stroke back. The Australian shot a 68 and was tied with Charley Hoffman, Jhonattan Vegas, Vaughn Taylor and Kevin Chappell.
If it wasn't for No. 9, Na might've been right there with them.
Na watched his first shot on No. 9 veer badly off course. His next stroke wasn't any better. Or the next one. Or the 11 after that.
Or maybe it was 12. Thirteen? Na himself couldn't keep track.
''I got done with the hole and I said (to my caddie), 'I think I made somewhere between a 10 and a 15,'' Na said. ''But I think it's close to a 15.''
It was 16.
Na birdied No. 18 to go 4 under on the other 17 holes. But so dreadful was No. 9 that the score was adjusted three times — first a 14, then 15, and finally, following a lengthy review of a video replay before signing his scorecard, it changed yet again to a 16.
The worst single-hole score at a PGA Tour event belongs to John Daly, who had an 18 on the par-5 sixth hole at Bay Hill in 1998. Ray Ainsley took 19 shots on the par-4 16th hole at Cherry Hills in the 1938 U.S. Open.
Scott and countryman Geoff Ogilvy, who finished the round two strokes back at 3 under, were in the group behind Na. They watched and waited to tee off as the 27-year-old hacked, whiffed and bumbled his way through a nearly 20-minute ordeal.
''There's some rocks in there and some pretty nasty stuff,'' Ogilvy said of the 474-yard ninth. ''You don't have to do a whole lot wrong to have three or four attempts to try and get it out. It becomes a comedy of errors sometimes.''
Even Na was smiling by the time he putted out.
''It's all a blur,'' Na said.
Here's what he does remember: his tee shot that sailed into the woods, where Na eventually found the ball. He called it unplayable and teed off again, but not with better results. Along the way he whiffed one stroke, ricocheted another off his thigh, tried two shots left-handed and watched the ball barely sputter forward on another stroke.
All while still in the woods.
''One bad hole can basically shoot you out of the tournament,'' Na said. ''That's what I just did.''
Having a far better day was Cink, who didn't decide to play at the Texas Open until he missed the cut at the Masters. He signed up 2 1/2 hours after the deadline.
The 2009 British Open winner was glad he did, shooting a bogey-free first round.
''I didn't really feel like I would go forward by taking another week off,'' Cink said. ''So I decided to add this one and just, you know, get right back to it instead of missing the cut at a major for another week.''

[plaiskegizils]

http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/highl...our/index.html

Once he hit the ball in the brush, going back to the tee was not an option. I don't know how they even figured out that it was a 16.

[OWV9LSxH]

http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/highl...our/index.html

Once he hit the ball in the brush, going back to the tee was not an option. I don't know how they even figured out that it was a 16.

Yup, he clearly didnt think that one through. Too bad, Na's a good player.

He could have just re tee'd his 3rd shot and be hitting 5 from the tee. could have salvaged a 8 or 9

[dgdhgjjgj]

http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/highl...our/index.html

Once he hit the ball in the brush, going back to the tee was not an option. I don't know how they even figured out that it was a 16.

I think I read he 1st said 15, and then looked at a video to make it 16. Not aware they were able to do that.

[Mediconlinee]

I think I read he 1st said 15, and then looked at a video to make it 16. Not aware they were able to do that.

Yeah, they can use whatever means necessary to get it right because if he signs an incorrect scorecard he is DQed.

[kimaddison]

Yeah, they can use whatever means necessary to get it right because if he signs an incorrect scorecard he is DQed.

Too bad, because he really has a shot to win now

[feeshyLew]

http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/highl...our/index.html

Once he hit the ball in the brush, going back to the tee was not an option. I don't know how they even figured out that it was a 16.

What do you mean? He declared it an unplayable lie, wasn't it?

[gregmcal]

What do you mean? He declared it an unplayable lie, wasn't it?

No, he went back to the tee after the first one and was hitting three. He hit it in the brush again and decided to try and hit it out. He hit it and the ball hit him which is another penalty. He then declared an unplayable but going back to the tee is not an option at that point. Going back to where he hit the last shot is.

[uniopaypamp]

No, he went back to the tee after the first one and was hitting three. He hit it in the brush again and decided to try and hit it out. He hit it and the ball hit him which is another penalty. He then declared an unplayable but going back to the tee is not an option at that point. Going back to where he hit the last shot is.

Ah, I thought you meant after the first tee shot. You're right, you have the option to go back to where you hit the last shot before finding the ball unplayable, but that does not necessarily mean the tee.