Pro’s 1-inch putting gaffe goes viral. But there’s more to the story

Paul Broadhurst groaned. “Ohhhh.”

The Sky Sports announcer lamented. “Oh, no, don’t like that.” 

You probably didn’t either. You’ve maybe seen what happened. The clip quickly went viral Thursday. 

In it, the 58-year-old Englishman approached what looked like a 1-inch putt for bogey on Carnoustie’s 7th green — and at this point in the description, it’s clear where this is headed. Holding the putter with just his right hand during the Senior Open’s first round, Broadhurst swung and missed. Maybe there was contact. Maybe not. But the ball didn’t go in, and Broadhurst had burned a stroke. (In the Rules of Golf, a “stroke” is defined this way: “The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.”

After the miss, Broadhurst connected on his second attempt, plucked his ball out of the cup and visibly exhaled after the double bogey. Notably, likely thinking that the miss wouldn’t happen, the broadcast cut away seconds after it did, only to replay it a bit later.     

Said an announcer on the second showing: “A moment ago back there on the 7th green, just watch this. This was for par. We cut away quite quickly.”

Said another announcer: “In his day, he would have knocked that one in for par, and he’s obviously frustrated, he’s in a bit of pain. Just watch this.” 

Said the first announcer: “Well, to me, that’s an attempt at a stroke. I think he knows it. That will be a six on the card instead of the five. He’s not in good shape down 8.”

But there’s a little more here. 

A short while earlier, after his tee shot on the 7th, Broadhurst participated in a “walk-and-talk” with on-course analyst Tim Barter. He did so with a cane. [You can see it in the picture at the top of this story.] In the interview, Broadhurst said he’d been battling arthritis in his right ankle. In other PGA Tour Champions events, carts are allowed, but at the Senior Open, they’re not. 

Still, Broadhurst is playing. In the 2016 Senior Open, also at Carnoustie, he was the winner. 

Below is the exchange Broadhust and Barter had about it all. 

Said Barter: “Obviously walking with a stick. We’re hearing about the arthritis. How big of challenge is this to play without a buggy, which you’re allowed to in America?”

Said Broadhurst: “It’s a pretty big challenge. … Yeah, severe arthritis in my right ankle, but I wouldn’t have pulled out anyway, so — last winner here so I got to give it a go.” 

Said Barter: “I was going to say, you won the Senior Open here back in 2016. Where does that rank in your list of achievements?”

Said Broadhurst: “No. 1, no question. To hold the Claret Jug, whether it’s the Senior one or the modern-day one, definitely ranks as No. 1 and that sits in my cabinet back home and I can look at it every day and a sense of achievement.”

Barter then asked what a player would need to do well this week — “other than hole a few putts, which is obvious.”

Indeed. Eerie.

So yeah, the miss hurts.

But the ankle, too.