Pro cards four after shank lands in fan’s drink

PGA Tour pro Adam Schenk carded five birdies in the opening round of the American Express, but none quite like the one on the 15th.

The 31-year-old found the drink on the par-5, quite literally, shanking his approach shot into a fan’s vodka cranberry on Pete Dye’s Stadium Course.

Per the PGA Tour, the wayward ball bounced off fan Brad Harmeyer’s chest and into the beverage before he raised the cup and took a sip.

Schenk’s next move proved every bit as astonishing. The American was given free relief, pitched to ten feet and rolled in a birdie four, as you do.

WHAT?!

Adam Schenk just hit his ball into a spectator’s cup @TheAmExGolf! pic.twitter.com/PKWzoilUYD

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 18, 2024

“You have a nice look at (the hole) right here,” Harmeyer told Schenk, who apologised to the spectator.

Schenk added: “I owe you a drink,” before autographing the unique piece or memorabilia for Harmeyer.

The pair then posed for a picture, while Schenk’s wife shared a snap of the incident on social media, posting: “Good birdie from here, Adam.”

Good birdie from here, Adam. pic.twitter.com/uEPkspuBEp

— Kourtney Schenk (@Kourtney_Schenk) January 18, 2024

His luck soon turned, though, as he found punishment in the drink on the 17th hole after sending his tee shot into the water.

Schenk ended his round eight shots off the pace in a tie for 98th place, thanks to that bogey on the penultimate hole.

US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson and winning European player Alex Noren share the lead on ten-under-par after the first round, with Rico Hoey and Christiaan Bezuidenhout one stroke back.

Meanwhile, Daniel Berger returned after almost two years out of competitive action with a four-under-par round.

The American, who last appeared in the 2022 U.S. Open, put his injury scares behind him to sit T54 in the California event.

And PGA professional Michael Block has a share of 134th place after marking his first PGA Tour start in two months with a level-par 72.