WATCH: Jordan Spieth Nearly Hits Rory Sabbatini With Drive

WATCH: Jordan Spieth Nearly Hits Rory Sabbatini With Drive

Jordan Spieth Rory Sabbatini
Twitter: @joechamber PGA Tour
(Image credit: Twitter: Joe Chamber/PGA Tour)

During the third round of The Players Championship, Jordan Spieth encountered an awkward situation as he teed off the 11th hole without realising that Rory Sabbatini was still stood on the right side of the fairway.

WATCH: Jordan Spieth Nearly Hits Rory Sabbatini With Drive

American Jordan Spieth had been going along nicely at two-under-par for his round when he teed off at the 11th hole.

Related: Jordan Spieth What’s In The Bag?

Blocking his drive to the right of the fairway, the three-time major champion's ball clattered into the trees and catapulted back into the short grass.

What Spieth failed to realise was the group in front were still in range for him, with the ball narrowly missing Rory Sabbatini.

Related: McIlroy Reveals Quest For Distance And Speed Has Led To Swing Problems  

The near-miss led to Spieth saying to his playing partner, Collin Morikawa: "I couldn't pick a worse person to hit into."

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After the near miss, Sabbatini would hit a poor shot to the left off the green, giving Spieth a huge stare as the Slovakian walked on down the 11th fairway.

After their round had finished, Spieth said to Golf Digest: "If I had to choose guys to hit into, he wouldn’t be one of them. I'm a little lucky, though, as we get along well. Collin said the same thing, too: ‘He likes me, too, so we should be fine.’

Related: Jordan Spieth's Incredible Streak Comes To An End

“I’ll apologise when I see him, I hit a tree right by him, so it couldn’t have been a good feeling.”

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x