The game of golf giveth and the game of golf taketh away.
Belgian golfer Thomas Detry fell squarely into the latter camp during Friday’s Round 2 at the Cognizant Classic, which was held at the PGA National Members Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Every golf hobbyist has had to live through a comically horrendous putting performance. Unfortunately for Detry, it happened to him on national television in a professional setting.
After an approach putt to set up an easy par on the sixth hole, Detry missed from four feet out. Ouch. Detry was then forced to settle for an easy bogey. Except he missed. Again.
That set up a gimme for a double-bogey, which he couldn’t possibly miss. What’s that? Oh, he missed it. After one more rushed, missed shot in an attempt to close out the hole, Detry finally (mercifully) escaped with a quadruple bogey eight on the Par 4.
Five of Detry’s six putts on the green were from within four feet.
The Thomas Detry five-putt from four feet, in all of its glory pic.twitter.com/Dv10zhsOMZ
— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) March 1, 2024
Simply less than ideal.
Thomas Detry recorded a six-putt at the Cognizant Classic. 😳
Read more: https://t.co/ryL6KhGhir pic.twitter.com/Uwg7hpfECr
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) March 1, 2024
The hole all but singlehandedly ended any chance of making the cut for Detry, who entered Round 2 with some ground to make up following a 2-over showing in Round 1. After shooting an 80 on the Par 71 course, Detry fell to dead last in the tournament by a four-stroke margin at 11-over.