William Mouw wants to tell a joke. Ten words in all. Mildly deadpanned.
Saturday, a day after the day where the PGA Tour pro carded a baker’s dozen on a hole, and a day after after the day where the online jokes came faster than you can say octuple bogey, Mouw told the PGA Tour social media team this:
“Let’s start off with I didn’t have a 13 today.”
Golf clap. Well played.
To catch you up, during the American Express tournament’s second round, Mouw entered the par-5 16th at the Pete Dye Stadium Course at six-under par for the event, and he left it at two-over. After two swings, he was OK. He was about 25 yards out. But a golf-ball-blocking, 18-foot-high bunker wall was now in front of him, and he ripped stroke three over the green.
Then he pitched back into the bunker.
Then his ball slapped against the bunker wall and trickled back down. Then he did that again.
Then he hit back over the green. Then he hit back in.
Then he hit out to the fairway to the right. Then he pitched over the green. Then he pitched on. Then he putted. Then he putted.
Thirteen strokes in all. Others, of course, have suffered on that hole. It’s punishing. But each time, folks engage. Why? You’re accident curious, for a whole host of reasons, though primarily it’s this one:
What the hell happened?
But would Mouw talk?
Friday, understandably and as far as we can tell, he was left to his thoughts. Saturday, he dished. We won’t get too syrupy about it, but you learn some things about a person in these moments.
Like Mouw laughed it off. Saturday, notably, he fired a 67, with nine birdies.
“I mean, people know that bunker and I’m definitely not the first to get captured by that bunker and make a big number and certainly won’t be the last,” Mouw said on a video released by the PGA Tour’s social media team. “It’s something that when it’s happening you just have to laugh at it and accept it and move on and laugh at it. Stuff happens, man. Golf’s a crazy game. And looking at the big picture and seeing things and moving on and having nine birdies today and bouncing back in a positive way is meaningful to me. And that’s how I took it. And yeah, I’m proud of myself. ”
We also gleaned that Mouw knew you were watching.
On the video, he was shown an Instagram comment. That person complimented him. The text is below.
No club throws, body language remained the same on every shot, didn’t give up, and stayed focused to 2 putt from 60+ feet. Shoutout @williamouw for setting a positive example for the kids – this kid is going to be a total STUD on Tour.
“That means a lot,” Mouw said on the video. “And kids are looking up to you. People are looking up to you. I have a platform out here, and to use it and set an example for kids and it’s — golf is a lot like life, man. There’s adversity and we as a player and as a student of the game and as a person of life, it’s not about dwelling on adversity and how can you turn adversity into positivity and use that to fuel you to get better and look at the bigger picture. And it’s something I did. You know, I’m glad I made a lot more fans because, you know, I was of the people of that time and I’m happy to set an example.”
Mouw also wears a bracelet on his right wrist. “Never, ever give up,” it reads. Inspirational. Good stuff.
Just like his joke.
