Renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella encourages golfers to have a “conservative strategy and a cocky swing.”
Alejandro Tosti seemingly heard only the second part, because as he played Valhalla’s signature par-4 13th Sunday at the PGA Championship, Tosti kicked conservative to the curb.
The colorful Argentine pro got off to a flying start in his first career major championship this week, opening with 68-69 to comfortably make the weekend and earn a Saturday tee time with Rory McIlroy. But Saturday was not a memorable one for the 27-year-old as he carded four doubles on his way to a 79. That put him in dead last to start Sunday, and in the first group off Sunday morning club pro Jeremy Wells.
All of which meant Tosti didn’t have much to lose Sunday.
And at 13, he played like it. Valhalla’s signature hole has played as one of the easier holes this week, with just about every player laying up short of the stream that cuts off the fairway, then hitting a flip wedge onto the island green that’s accented by a waterfall.
Through three rounds, more than 89 percent of the field had found the green in regulation and the hole had given up 111 birdies.
The longest drive of the week on the 354-yard par-4? A mere 279 yards. At least until Tosti arrived on the tee Sunday morning.
With the tee pushed forward slightly, Tosti took dead aim for the small island green and roasted (toasted?) a driver. Tosti is known on Tour for his big drives (7th in driving distance) and his big attitude. Earlier this season, he and Tony Finau had an “icy” exchange over playing order.
He was coming off a bogey on 12 when he took aim for the 13th green.
As remarkable as it was for a Tour pro even attempting the shot from the tee — which is about 315 yards to the front of the green, which itself is only 20-25 yards wide — it was even more astonishing when Tosti’s ball descended softly onto the putting surface, took a slope and stopped just six feet, 11 inches from the hole.
It was a shot no player had tried all week, even during practice rounds, according to the CBS broadcast crew.
“I don’t think we’ll see the leaders do that, but it’s possible,” said Curtis Strange on the ESPN broadcast.
Tosti converted the putt for one of the most incredible eagles in tournament history.
“I don’t care what you shoot, you will have that for a memory,” Strange said.
Tosti made another bogey on 15, but birdied 17 and 18 coming home to get back to even for the championship.
As of this writing, the only other player to try and drive the green was Jordan Spieth, more than five hours later. Spieth’s ball found the water short of the green.
