In a more than quarter-century-long career during which he was the most sought-after pro-am partner — and will be if and when he plays again — it’s safe to say Tiger Woods has seen his share of ugly golf shots.
Professional gambler Ben Lamb added one more to the list earlier this year.
On this week’s episode of GOLF Subpar, Lamb, who is about a 7 or 8 handicap, told co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stolz how Woods was sympathetic to Lamb’s tee shot on Riviera’s 5th hole during the Wednesday pro-am at this year’s Genesis Invitational.
“So he hits a 2-iron off the [back] tee, 40 yards behind me and I said, ‘Should I hit driver?'” Lamb recalled of the short dogleg-left par-4 with a barranca running through the fairway. “He says, ‘Can you a draw a 3-wood?’ And I said, ‘Of course I can draw a 3-wood.'”
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This is where the movie-trailer narrator comes in with: He didn’t.
“I duck-hooked it,” Lamb said.
Woods could have laughed at the result, but Lamb said he actually did something to make him feel a bit better.
“He’s like, ‘Ah, the wind hit that one. No problem,'” Lamb said.
Of course, the wind hadn’t caused Lamb’s miscue, but it’s nice to hear the GOAT at least pretending to make an excuse for your poor swing. That or it’s completely demoralizing. We’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Anyway, with his next shot, Lamb tried to play a hero ball from the trees on the left, which, of course, always works out.
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“And there’s an electric box which I didn’t see,” Lamb said. “I had a hybrid, and I was kind of going up and through these trees to the right, which was pretty impossible. But I’m trying to make birdies, you know, so I’m going to go for it.
“I didn’t see the electric box until I heard it. It was loud. It hit hard and [my ball] went, like, all the way back behind, like the 30 people in the fairway with the cameras and all his people and whatever.”
Lamb said his brother, Shane, who was caddying for him, just looked down and shook his head. Then Shane asked him if he wanted to keep playing the hole.
There was only one way Lamb could respond:
“I say, ‘Go pick up the f—— ball.'”
For more from Lamb, including his explanation of “gambler’s rules” and greasing on the golf course, check out the full episode of Subpar below.