Golf Digest Digital editorial director Sam Weinman recently dared to play three holes from the tips at Winged Foot, home to this week’s US Open, with cameras rolling. Unsurprisingly, it was ugly. Particularly a shattered shot on the second hole which we advise none of those participating in the tournament to watch. Never. Just absolutely nightmare stuff.
But incredibly, Sam may be off the hook when it comes to hitting the worst blow at Winged Foot this month. Even more incredible is that the new person who holds this unofficial title is a PGA Tour pro.
Mark Hubbard is making his US debut this week and certainly looked like one with rookie nervousness as he played the iconic par-3 hole on the 10th hole during a Wednesday practice round. Check out this total top that unfortunately for him, but luckily for us, got caught on camera:
Plot. The difficult Winged Foot is known as a “second shot golf course”, but we’re pretty sure AW Tillinghast didn’t imagine golfers playing their second shot right in front of the tee box.
To Hubbard’s credit, he gave a couple of fantastic answers, first when it happened while those around him were giggling, and then when the video came back to him Wednesday night.
LOL “Locked and Loaded”. And hey, maybe it is. After all, Billy Casper won the 1959 US Open by placing third par 3 all four rounds and making the par. Perhaps Hubbard wanted a more comfortable number for his approach.
And then, of course, there’s a chance it was just a big hoax. After all, this wasn’t a Golf Digest hack (Sorry, Sam), but someone who plays the game for a living. As one commentator on the video said, Hubbard can achieve maximum on command. So if that’s all, he seems to be in great shape.
.
