It was one of the highlights of last week’s BMW PGA Championship.
The moment, at the par-5 12th hole, when Rory McIlroy’s clubhead flew off at impact.
McIlroy had little idea what had happened and was a little bewildered, not least when he realised that the ball had not only made it to the green but set up an eagle putt!
His playing partner Ryan Fox said: “I’ve never seen that in person.”
“I’ve never seen that in person” @ryanfoxgolfer
A look back at Rory McIlroy’s impressive club head snap #BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/l6CNDk5fA9
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 19, 2024
It’s rare for a clubhead to snap off as a shot is being played.
But it’s not that unusual for clubs to snap mid-round; it’s just that most of the time it is the players snapping them, not an accident.
Here are five of the best…
Number 5 – Brandon Stone
In the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, the South African Brandon Stone is taking aim at a par-5 green with a fairway wood.
Then it all goes horribly wrong.
As commentator Mark Roe says: “The ball is wet and the club … is no more.”
Number 4 – Rory McIlroy
This is an occasion when the Northern Irishman broke a club on purpose.
It’s the ZOZO Championship and he has 140-yards to the pin.
Unfortunately he finds the greenside rough and, after a sigh, he pushes down on the club and snaps the shaft in two.
Number 3 – Ludvig Aberg
This one is comparable to McIlroy’s.
Swedish superstar Ludvig Aberg is taking aim at the green on a short par-4 and the head of his driver flies off.
Not to worry.
Aberg can’t quite work out how, but the ball makes it to the putting surface!
WHAT?!
Ludvig Åberg’s driver head BREAKS and he still drives the green at the par-4 17th. pic.twitter.com/POGGlR9d1q
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2024
Number 2 – Thomas Pieters
Just like McIlroy’s accidental club snap, this one came at Wentworth in the BMW PGA Championship.
But the big Belgian Thomas Pieters was just really fed up and, after missing yet another target, he wraps the club around his own neck until it can take no more.
Number 1 – Thomas Pieters
Yes, the big Belgian not only wins, he also claims the top two positions.
In the 2016 Open he has hacked his way down a hole and is so furious at himself he not only snaps the club in two (over his knee this time), he also hurls both pieces of the club in the gorse.
Funnily enough the shot isn’t that bad.
