WATCH: Tour Pros Birdie Putt Rolls 30 Yards Off The Green

Ken Duke had a moment to forget on the 15th as his birdie putt rolled 30 yards off the green, leading to a triple bogey

Duke putts it off the green
(Image credit: Twitter: @ChampionsTour)

It's safe to say that, at some point in a golfer's life, they have at least suffered this moment. You're faced with a birdie or par putt and are looking to carry on the momentum as you head to the later stages of your round. Lining up the putt, you hit it slightly too hard then, suddenly, it won't stop rolling, so much so, it travels past the flag and down a big slope, finishing some 30 yards off the green.

We all have stories and incidents of this happening and, for PGA Tour Champions player, Ken Duke, it was unfortunately caught on camera, with the 53-year-old, who was leading at the time, putting his birdie attempt off the front edge of the green and down a gradual slope.

 Watch the video below:

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Playing the second round of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, Duke had been leading as he made his way to the 15th hole, with the American one-under-par for his round. However, what soon followed was an incident that would make club golfers around the globe nod and say to themselves 'yep, been there'.

Hitting two good shots into the difficult 15th, the American was faced with a rapid putt down the hill. Striking it cleanly, the putt started right of the hole but never came back.

As it trundled by, Duke started walking after it. However, it never came to rest, with the 53-year-old at one point standing over it as it continued its revolutions. Continuing to roll, the inevitable soon happened, with the ball tumbling down the bank at the front of the green and some 30 yards back from where it started.

Pitching back to the green, Duke's fourth shot didn't even reach the front edge, toppling back into the greenside bunker. When he did eventually find the green, Duke was faced with a near identical putt to that of five minutes ago.

Duke hits a drive

Duke's biggest professional win came at the 2013 Travelers Championship

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Thankfully, for Duke, he would tap the putt to gimme range and eventually roll it in for a costly triple bogey. Following the disastrous hole, the American went on to par the 16th and 17th, before a birdie at the last put him two shots back of David Toms, with just the final round 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