Round 1: Valero Texas Open
April 14 2011
8:50 pm
Na handles making a 16 well
By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer
WATCH: Click here to see a clip of Na’s adventure on No. 9
For a guy who just recorded one of the highest single-hole scores in PGA TOUR history, Kevin Na was pretty upbeat. At least as upbeat as someone in his situation could be.
“I feel like I’m playing somewhat decent and it was one shot — actually two but one that started the whole thing and it was one bad hole and what’s crazy about this game,” Na said. “One bad hole can basically shoot you out of the tournament. That’s what I just did. Without that I shot I believe …”
Without that shot, Na would have shot 68 and been one stroke off the lead had he parred No. 9.
Instead he did what he did, making a 16 on the hole, that he originally thought was 14, later wrote down a 15 and then eventually determined he was 12 over on the par-4 hole when he checked replays after the round.
Only John Daly’s 18 during the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational ranks higher since 1983 on the PGA TOUR.
“No such thing as what if,” Na said. “But, let’s say I made 5 or 6 on that hole, I’m looking really good at this tournament, thinking I got a morning tee time and go low tomorrow.”
Instead, he’ll enter the second round with an 80 on the scorecard.
“I think I handled myself pretty well,” said Na, who made three birdies and no bogeys the rest of his round. “My play just shows that 4 under — 3 under on the rest of the way in, whatever I did. I hit a lot of good shots and didn’t make another bogey afterwards. It just shows you how well I took it.”
Does Na wish he did anything different, like going back to the tee instead of trying to hack his way out of the woods?
Of course.
”I wish I went back and re-teed it again and I might have made 8,” Na continued. “That’s 4 over. That’s what, even par or something?
“I mean it’s a lot of what ifs and what could have been. The only thing I can do is learn from this and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF NA’S 12-OVER 16 ON NO. 9 AT TPC SAN ANTONIO
| Shot | Shot/description |
| 1-2 | Tee shot right. Went down and found ball and declared an unplayable lie. |
| 3 | Went back to the tee box and hit another tee shot which went right in to the woods. Then hit a provisional left (Abandoned provisional). Found second tee shot on the right and played it. |
| 4-5 | Played ball in the woods and hit a tree and the ball hit himself and took a one shot penalty. |
| 6 | Took unplayable where ball came to rest. |
| 7 | Hit ball in woods. |
| 8 | Hit ball in woods (Left-handed and missed ball). |
| 9 | Hit ball in woods (Left-handed and advanced ball). |
| 10 | Hit ball in woods (barely moved the ball). |
| 11 | Hit ball in woods and did not get out of the trees. |
| 12 | Hit ball in woods and advanced to the rough. |
| 13 | Hit ball from woods in to rough. |
| 14 | Played from rough to the fringe. |
| 15 | Played from fringe on to green. |
| 16 | Made putt from 5 feet, 10 inches. |
Click here to replay with Shot Tracker
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Roughsauce
It’s ok Kevin, I once took a 24 on a par 5 when by ball went deep down into my foot print in a sand trap. Practically needed a shovel to get it out.
I’m sorry for Kevin. He took so many shots that Shot Tracker really couldn’t handle it. If you look at what’s shown on this page, it shows him on the fringe in 12 (but it should be 14). And, if you click on the ‘see replay’ link above, on that page where they detail each shot, starting from the bottom, it starts with Shot 1, then goes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Kevin broke Shot Tracker!
that’s not a big number, John Daly’s 18 is a big number. I play Rancho Park where Arnold took a 12 on the par 5 18th hole commemorated with a plaque to honor the King. Arnie hit two tee shots into the driving range, two tee shots into the street and then proceeded a birdie for a really smooth 12.
The next time someone askes you, Kevin, how you made a 16, be sure to give it to them straight… I missed my putt for 15.
Lives up to his rep…slow.
I can’t believe he still only shot an 80…
Greatest call I’ve heard for a long time was when he said walking away after his 12th shot , ” they should have a red line there” . But Kevin then we would miss out on all that entertainment. Anyway thanks for wearing the mike and thanks for ignoring your greedy caddy who only thinks of himself(he wanted you to go back to the tee for a boring 8) and not the fans at home smiling and laughing.Keep it up (perhaps even quicker next time):).Hope you make a birdie there tomorrow and shoot 64.
You really handled the siuation well Kev! another example how pros differ from amateurs. three birdies and six pars to follow the 16. I’m sure you’ll break the course record to make the cut.
How do I join the Na fan club?????
@robi…the only problem with the “I missed my putt for a 15″ response is that he *didn’t* miss a putt for 15. He one-putted the hole after chipping on from the fringe! :)
So what did Kevin say when he was asked is he scored a 15 on the hole? He said, Na.. it was 16!
Don’t sweat it bro. Marcel Siem came in in 52 yesterday in Malaysia after a pair of 8′s and three 6′s on the back 9. Great if your playing poker, not so much in golf.
I wish i could take a 16 and still shoot 80.
I had Kevin this week in my fantasy golf league! Looks like a g$$se egg for both of us!
I think Kev is a true professional.
Is reaction to yesterday’s 16 was great.
Hope he shoots well today.
Pete
Wasn’t Kevin the same guy who had another incident a few years ago (at Bay Hill or Disney)
when he was one of the leaders and hit his drive onto a adjacent path in bounds? A lady spectator thought “How nice to get a souvenir” and walked off with his in play ball. The delay from conferences etc were almost as bad as yesterday.
Can’t believe I’m saying this about Na but he didn’t take his time. If he would have just slowed down, took a deep breath, assesed the situation, I believe he would have been to extracate himself out of the woods in a lot less strokes.
wow.. a double snowman
Why was he not disqualified? He never used the word Provisional, violation of Rule 27. He turns to his caddy and says “do you have another one.”
Can someone plese explain?
Okay, can someone explain the math on his scorecard. He had the 16 on no.9, a bogey on no. 1 and then 5 birdies. That’s +12 in my book and an 84.
I looked at the tape again, only thing I can surmise is when the ball from the tee is in the air, which the coverage followed, he said something to the marker, which we did not see or hear.
Really GregB? If you’re serious he was 12 over on the hole and not 16 over.
Greg-
The 16 is +12 for that hole. So if you do the math, 12+1-5=+8=80.
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Well, when I make an 8 or a 9 on the first hole in our Men’s Club Tournament tomorrow morning, I can walk off the green and say, “at least it wasn’t a 16!”
Good putt!
@Greg B, you must not be very smart. The 16 on no. 9 was + 12 not +16! Therefore, he was 12 over on that hole alone (LMAO) 1 over on no. 1 along with 5 birdies. That makes Na +8 for a score of 80. #peoplethesedaysarestupid
Lesson to Korean all Over The WORLD:
You KOREAN are most selfish Golfers. You play and move SLOWLY and don’t give a zhit to other players behind. You try to push golfers in front to get out of your way! Bad Manners!!
I’m not surprised to read that NA is one of them.
That’s why he could not speed up play when in trobles.
I wonder what the Golfers are thinking today as they Tee Off on the 9th Hole…..Naaaaaaaa.
I have been watching the last few Groups go by the Ninth Hole and except for Brian Gay (Bogey) the other Golfers are about 50/50 on the Fairway or to the Left, some in the Native area…but on the Left. Which way is the Wind blowing on the Ninth Hole today?