With heightened stakes and strong winds, it’s easy to see how players at the 103rd PGA Championship could let their emotions get away from them.
This happened to University of Minnesota product Erik van Rooyen on Friday when a rough stretch on the back nine pushed him over the edge.
It appeared that the South African would end up on the right side of the cut, but he made a bogey on No. 14, a double on 15 and then another bogey on 16 before knocking his tee shot on the 17th into the water.
The result was a Herculian tirade, one that included damaged tee markers.
Former #Gophers golfer Erik Van Rooyen just went full Happy Gilmore at the PGA Championship.
— GopherHole.com (@GopherHole) May 21, 2021
Van Rooyen’s caddie, Alex Gaugert, nearly walked into the tirade and winced as he quickly turned away.
Van Rooyen just damaged the tee markers at @PGAChampionship wowww! pic.twitter.com/HqUT3dh9t4
— Make Golf Fun (@makegolfgood) May 21, 2021
As you can see, the first whack caused two marshals off to the left shudder.
Needed a clubhead speed graphic for this pic.twitter.com/O8822fyXzu
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) May 21, 2021
The second swipe is what broke the club head off the iron and more importantly, freaked out his caddie, who ducked for cover.
Van Rooyen took a triple-bogey 6 on the hole. It was the third straight 6 on his scorecard.