Major winner stopped by snake at PGA Championship

Shaun Micheel has seen a lot during his three decades in professional golf.

Perhaps that’s why the former winner was so comfortable shrugging off what others would see as a frightening encounter with a snake at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

The American, who lifted the Wanamaker Trophy in 2003, was finding a yardage for his third shot on the tenth when he was met with the reptile.

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Micheel calmly got out of the snake’s way while a tournament volunteer jumped in and ushered the snake out of the way towards the rough.

Incredibly, the 56-year-old then stood up after the brief interruption and made birdie, holing a 12-footer as he chased the cutline in Charlotte.

A HUGE snake disrupts play at the PGA Championship! 😲🐍 pic.twitter.com/haIc7bbBFX

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 16, 2025

Micheel has not made a cut at this major since 2011, but he will always be defined by his magical triumph at Oak Hill in 2003.

During an in-depth interview with bunkered, Micheel recently opened up on how that two-shot victory over Chad Campbell 22 years ago changed his life immeasurably.

“My career went from zero to 100 overnight,” Micheel said.

“I kind of felt like an animal at the zoo. Don’t get me wrong, it was exciting because, professionally, it gave me other opportunities. Playing in the Masters, having a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, getting to play in new tournaments. That part was great.

“But away from the course, it was really difficult, and I think I probably did myself a disservice.

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“I did some things I swore I would never do. For example, I gave up playing golf with my father and his group of friends. They had let me play with them from the age of ten or 11.

“But I quit playing golf for fun. Instead, I found myself with a video camera at the back of the range at TPC Southwind analysing my swing and hitting balls for five or six hours at a time.

“I just got completely overwhelmed by the stress of being a major champion, of trying to validate it, of trying to prove to people that it wasn’t just a fluke, and, at the same time, trying to be a good father, a good husband.

“Looking back, I truly wish I’d sought some counselling from a sports psychologist, like a Bob Rotella or somebody. I was desperately trying to find some kind of balance but, every week, I got further and further away from it.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.