Justin Lower found himself in a bit of a pickle at TPC Sawgrass’ famous Stadium Course during the Players Championship’s first round. It all started with one unfortunate swing but was quickly redeemed by the next.
Kicking off his Thursday with a tee time on the back nine at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Lower was cruising along, maintaining a steady even score with eight straight pars. However, the moment he reached the legendary 17th hole, things took a splashy turn. Overshooting his target, Lower’s ball ended up in the water, forcing him to take a drop.
Now, you might think this would throw him off his game, but Lower had other plans. Taking a wedge, he expertly sent his ball from 89 yards, where it gracefully bounced before the hole and, almost as if rehearsed, dropped in for an unexpected par. It was a moment of sheer magic on one of golf’s biggest stages.
Notably, Lower’s group was just the second of the day to take on the 17th hole, providing early drama in the tournament. For fans with a keen memory, this scene might echo Fred Couples’ astounding par from the 1999 Players Championship. Couples, in a similar situation, re-teed and holed out from a greater distance, adding his own flair with a signature smirk after his successful shot.
Riding on that wave of excitement, Lower wrapped up the 18th with another par, turning in an even-par 36. He managed to card birdies on the 3rd and 7th holes during his round but encountered a setback with a double bogey on the 4th, closing the day at even-par 72. This placed him tied for 63rd, trailing six shots behind the lead after the opening day.
Looking ahead, Lower, along with his playing partners Keith Mitchell and Nicolai Hojgaard, is set to tee off in their second round on Friday at 12:56 p.m. ET, ready to tackle another day on the challenging course.
