Why There's More Than Meets The Eye With Bailey Shoemaker's Viral ANWA Slow Play Video

When Bailey Shoemaker was seen on video taking well over a minute to hit a tee shot at the Augusta National Women's Amateur the response was inevitable.

The slow play klaxon was sounded and the pile-on began on social media, with the clip having around 2m views in less than 24 hours - but as is usually the case there's more to the story that meets the eye.

That's because the 21-year-old had elbow surgery in October after suffering from cubital tunnel syndrome, which she spent seven months trying to playing through in immense pain.

The seven waggles and aborted backswings were a clear sign that this was not a labored pre-shot routine but more of a mental battle after a tough injury.

As Shoemaker told Golf Digest before the ANWA that she had suffered severe pain, numbness and even her fingers coming off the club when playing with her injury.

“Once I’d get to the top of my swing, I’d get a shooting pain down my arm, and then in my ring and pinkie finger they’d come up off my club,” Shoemaker told Golf Digest.

“I lost motor control of them. I didn’t have any function over them, which was scary. It was bleeding into my sleep and just sitting, which was kind of tough. Very scary for a while."

And while physically she can swing the club pain free again, Shoemaker told Golf Channel that mentally it remains a battle to get through.

“Just trying to reassure myself that there isn’t pain anymore,” Shoemaker told Golf Channel. “I’ve been struggling with it for the last four months, just being fully committed to hitting the ball.”

The network's Brentley Romine reported that Shoemaker had seen her viral social media moment and was "audibly dejected" when he contacted her afterwards.

And the sad fact is that at least in some social media areas the USC junior will be known for this extended tee shot and all the negative comments that followed.

When Shoemaker is a talented player - who actually holds the ANWA record at Augusta National as she shot 66 when finishing second in 2024.

Her USC coach Justin Silverstein - who Golf Monthly spoke to last year - told Golf Channel that Shoemaker was “one of the fastest players I’ve ever coached” before her injury.

“It’s not easy what she’s going through as far as being able to swing comfortably and confidently,” said Silverstein.

“She’s taking it back and her brain is still firing like it’s going to hurt, and that’s how she played all last spring.”

Shoemaker shot a one-over round of 73 at Champions Retreat to sit T40 after the first round - the top 30 then head to play Augusta National for the final round.