'Embarrassed' Brit needs 17 strokes to finish last hole
By Associated Press
Published June 21, 2003
GLENEAGLES, Scotland - Chris Gane of England hacked his way through heavy rough for 17 on the 18th hole Friday at the Diageo Championship, the second-highest single-hole score in European PGA Tour history.
"I was absolutely embarrassed by the experience," he said.
Gane's total on the par-5, 533-yard closing hole on the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles ranks second to the 20 France's Philippe Porquier took at the 1978 French Open at La Baule. Ian Woosnam had 16 at the 1986 French Open.
John Daly hit a 3-wood into the water six times on the par-5 sixth hole in the final round of Bay Hill Invitational in 1998 for 18. He shot 85.
The PGA Tour and the U.S. Golf Association said no records for single-hole high scores are kept.
After hitting into knee-high rough around the green on his third shot, Gane failed to advance the ball on three swings. He took a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable lie for his seventh stroke, but his drop nestled into the deep rough.
Gane could not move the ball with five more swings before advancing the ball with his 13th stroke. After chipping on the green with his 14th stroke, Gane took three putts for 17.
"Ever seen the film Zorro?" said Gane, who shot 17-over 89 for a two-round total 21-over 165 and missed the cut.
"It was like that with all my slashing at it. I lost count as I kept trying to move it. One of them finally shifted it about 6 yards and, when I eventually got it on the green, I got a round of applause."
Soren Kjeldsen shot 68 and was 4-under 140 for a one-stroke lead over Paul Broadhurst (68). Colin Montgomerie (73) was five back, ending his string of missed cuts in Europe at two.
