WATCH: Gary Woodland Clatters Fence With Golf Ball At Open Championship

The video of Woodland clattering the fence with his golf ball has caused some reaction on social media

Gary Woodland looks on in the rain at The Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Conditions at The Open haven't gone into full Links mode yet, but certainly the wind is beginning to pick up and has been causing some drama as it continues to blow at a steady 20mph.

One of the prime examples of the wind causing havoc has been on the very opening hole, where players have seen the majority of their tee shots fly left of the fairway, with spectators regularly hearing shouts of "fore!" 

Next to the first, running to the left of it, is the par 5 18th. Between the two holes is a metal fence which has been seeing a lot more action than first thought, especially when Gary Woodland's golf ball clattered into it following his second shot during the opening round on Thursday.

In a video first posted by Sounder Golf, Woodland is seen setting up to his golf ball on the 18th whilst left of the fence. Famed for his ability to hit stingers, shots that barely rise above the ground, it was perhaps slightly risky for the American to be striking a fairway wood, but who am I to tell a US Open winner what to do!

Anyway, after striking his fairway wood, the ball is seen colliding into the metal fence, with the spectators nearby taking a dive back as it's unclear where it's actually gone. Woodland, who also jumps slightly, looks around for any sign, with it then becoming clear that it has finished 83-yards ahead of him, still in the rough.

In the end, the 39-year-old would do well to save par, despite going long and right with his third shot. However, the incident caused one of Woodland's fellow PGA Tour pros to sarcastically react...

Taking to Twitter, Michael Kim, who fired rounds of 75 and 73 to miss the cut at Royal Liverpool, responded to the video, writing: "Apparently to get relief, he needed to be within 4 yards of the fence but he was 6 yds so he was not allowed a drop. As @KylePorterCBS would say: Normal sport."

According to the Sky Sports broadcast, players can get relief from the fence if their ball comes to rest inside four clubs length of it. If the ball doesn't, then they must play it as it lies and, in the case of Woodland, that is exactly what happened. 

Currently, it is unclear as to whether the fence line will change, but one thing that has changed already this tournament is the way the bunkers have been raked. On Friday morning, The R&A instructed greenkeepers to flatten the floor of the bunkers in tournament preparation, meaning golf balls would be more likely to get trapped in the corners, as opposed to them rolling up to the faces. This came after a number of players made comments on Thursday.

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