Exactly 20 years and one day after a group of fans helped Tiger Woods move a boulder blocking his way at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Brooks Koepka experienced something similar during the second round of the Saudi International.
Koepka found himself in a spot of bother on the par-4 15th when he hit his tee shot left of the fairway. His ball found its way up against a boulder in the sand, blocking any chance of a swing for his second shot. Even though Koepka may be the strongest player on Tour, not even he could tackle this “loose impediment” alone. (In fact, he didn’t even chip in to help! Somewhere, Joey D shakes his head.) But in contrast to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, fans are sparse at the newly-minted Saudi International. But Koepka had several security guards and course marshals who each chipped in to help.
“It was lodged in there pretty good, pretty much right against the rock, and the security guys, I figured I’d call them, they’re a little bigger than me, so they could help move it,” Koepka said. “It helps sometimes to be in the bigger groups. There’s more people there, more chance you can get it done. But yeah, thankful for those guys.”
Despite the rescue, Koepka settled for bogey on the hole and an even-par 70 in the second round. You can see the operation take place below.
We’ve seen this movie before.
Nearly 20 years to the day where fans helped @TigerWoods move a boulder in Phoenix, @BKoepka gets the same treatment at the #SaudiIntlGolf 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/gFLLIGYXJK
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 1, 2019
The scene harkened back to Jan. 31, 1999, when Tiger Woods faced a similar obstacle during the final round in Phoenix. The one-ton boulder required a passionate group of fans using all their might to shift the boulder out of the way, but it was well worth it: Woods went on to birdie the hole. Here’s that must-watch video (with some bonus ace content):
A plaque marks the spot to this day.
Hey @TigerWoods 20 years ago today. You remember this rock!? pic.twitter.com/oAfO9cOyKy
— Kyler Campbell (@KylerCampbell11) January 31, 2019
