Woodland’s rare topped tee shot costs lead bid at BMW Championship
A double bogey on the ninth hole at Bellerive Country Club derailed Gary Woodland’s final-round charge against Wyndham Clark.
Gary Woodland’s bid for the lead at the BMW Championship was derailed by a rare and costly error on the ninth hole during the final round at Bellerive Country Club. The 42-year-old, who had been in contention for the title, recorded a double bogey after topping his tee shot into a creek that commentators noted had never been in play during previous tournaments at the venue.
The incident occurred on the 436-yard, par four ninth hole, where Woodland was attempting to hit a stinger off the tee with a fairway wood. The shot travelled only 97 yards before landing in the water hazard. The error proved decisive in the tournament’s closing stages, as Woodland had previously carded three birdies on the front nine to trim Wyndham Clark’s lead to a single stroke.
At the time of the mistake, Woodland was sitting at 14 under par. The double bogey six effectively stalled his momentum, leaving him to contend with the pressure of the FedEx Cup Playoffs’ second leg. The timing of the error was particularly significant given that Woodland had been making a strong run at the lead entering the back nine.
CBS Sports commentator Jim Nantz highlighted the unusual nature of the hazard, stating that the creek had never been in play in any tournament held at Bellerive Country Club. This observation underscored the unexpected difficulty Woodland faced on a hole that had not previously posed such a threat to players.
Woodland, a native of Topeka, Kansas, had enjoyed a resurgence earlier in the year with a victory at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open in April, marking his first win since 2019. The Kansas native, who has a significant following among Jayhawks fans, referred to the event as a home game despite the tournament being held in Missouri.
The irony of the situation was not lost on viewers, as Topeka is often referred to as “Top City,” a nickname that added a layer of humour to Woodland’s topped shot. The incident serves as a reminder of the fine margins in professional golf, where a single shot can alter the trajectory of a tournament.
