WATCH: Patrick Cantlay Plays Shot From Wooden Sleeper At RBC Heritage

Cantlay found himself in a bizarre incident on the par 3 14th, with the American forced to play a shot from a wooden sleeper

A golf ball sits on a wooden sleeper
(Image credit: Twitter: @PGATOUR)

During his final round whilst in contention at the RBC Heritage, Patrick Cantlay was dealt a peculiar incident when his chip shot from the edge of the green looked destined for the water, but somehow stayed up via the assistance of a wooden sleeper. 

It turned out to be a huge stroke of luck for the American, as he somehow played a miraculous chip shot from the sleeper, which could have gone anywhere, as it finished just a few feet away for what was, in the end, a very good bogey. 

Over the past few weeks, Cantlay has come under fire for his pace of play, with the American at the centre of a social media barrage at last week's Masters. At the tournament Brooks Koepka, who was in the group behind Cantlay, stated that: “The group in front of us was brutally slow."

At the RBC Heritage, Cantlay fired a jibe of his own back at those who called him out, as the 31-year-old made a hole-in-one before sharing a video of the ace with the caption: "Playing Faster!"

Now, during the final round, after three birdies in his first 10 holes, he found himself in contention. However, a bogey at the par 4 13th dropped him two back of then leader, Jordan Spieth, with Cantlay incurring a bizarre incident at the very next hole, the 197-yard par 3.

Cantlay puts his hand on his hips as he holds his putter

Cantlay during the final round of the RBC Heritage 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Pulling his tee shot, the normally reliable Cantlay then misjudged his chip shot completely, as his ball careered towards the water but, as mentioned earlier, it miraculously stayed up via one of the sleepers.

Faced with a chip shot that could have gone anywhere, due to the ball being suspended between the two bits of wood, Cantlay discussed, in depth and time, with his caddie, before deciding against a drop that would have put him out of contention.

What followed was a ridiculously good chip shot that landed on the green and rolled to a few feet. Although he tapped in for bogey, the damage limitation meant he was still in contention with just a handful of holes remaining.

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