You’re most likely to have witnessed the wet conditions at Albany Golf Club, Bahamas, as a result of heavy rains that fell early in the week.
Priority lies were in place during the first two rounds. This meant that golfers could clean their balls of any mud and debris before they played shots. However, this was not the case in the third round. The result? Carnage.
Scottie Scheffler shot his second shot on both the par 5s of the front nine. It looked almost like a shank. Cameron Young was leading the way when his second shot at the 11th hole missed by 50-60 yards. Mud on the golf ball affected many other shots, including Viktor Hovland’s approach to the 18th.
The mud ball was present in the first round and again during the third round. Some players were not afraid to discuss the decision to drop the ball in the third round.
Kevin Kisner said, “Absolutely stunned,” after he aced the par-3 12. “We called them out like four times to check our balls just to be clear.”
Justin Thomas’s mud-covered golfball during round three of the 2022 Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course, Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images).
Justin Thomas added: “You are pretty much getting mud every single drive. You just have to pray you don’t get too many.”
Even the NBC crew was questioning this decision. Paul Azinger pointed out on the broadcast that the decision was not resonating with players. Notah Begay was walking along the course and was shocked by Young’s shot at the 11th hole. She also noted how difficult the mud was.
Scheffler stated that he was not going to waste too many time on it, but he did not hesitate when asked if it was something he does.
Scheffler stated that “you pretty much don’t know what the golf ball is going to do.” It’s something I wouldn’t practice at home because it’s something I don’t believe should be done on the course. You can’t replicate a mudball at home. I do all kinds of crazy shots and lies.
Hovland, on the other hand, feels like he hasn’t had as many bad breaks.
Hovland stated that although there were a few (mud balls), it wasn’t too bad. It was almost like I got lucky. Although I did have a minor mud ball on 18, I flew a bit strangely and didn’t get the best shots. It was only a few odd ball flights, but it didn’t really make a big difference.
Collin Morikawa stated that he didn’t have nearly as many bad breaks than his playing partner Tom Kim but that the mud caused him to experience bad flashbacks.
Morikawa explained, “What happened last summer, I put it into the left bush, and that immediately crept in to my head because there was mud on my right which means the ball’s moving left.” Problem is that the wind is blowing right so I don’t know where to aim. I ended up aiming straight into the bush, and it thankfully went with the wind at end. It was not a pleasant feeling.
