AVONDALE, La. – A fairway bunker wasn’t Talor Gooch’s only hazard on the 18th hole at TPC Louisiana.
Gooch’s ball came to rest Thursday within a few feet of three gators, leading to a lengthy delay as he sorted out his options.
Chesson Hadley used a rake to nudge two of the gators on the tail, sending them back into the pond surrounding the green. But the third gator wouldn’t budge.
“It woke him up from a nap,” Gooch said, “and he was hissing away and wasn’t happy.”
The other two gators remained in the water, their eyes fixed on the group.
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“I’m sure we would have been fine, but any little movement by them and no chance I would have made solid contact,” he said.
A rules official granted Gooch free relief, away from the gator, but he still had to drop in the bunker. The ball plugged.
“I chose life over a good lie in that situation,” he said.
He splashed out short of the green, nearly holed out his pitch shot and made par to cap off an eventful 6-under 66 with partner Andrew Landry.
“It was my first gator par,” he said. “I’ll take it.”
Source: Internet
