Photog Takes Direct Hit Standing in the ‘Shank Zone’
While not a single meaningful shot is hit, Wednesday has become one of the biggest days of the week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The social media influencers and celebrities come out in droves, everyone just looking to get a taste of the scene at the par-3 16th hole.
At day’s end, some of these folks participate in the Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory, which provides enough Instagram and Tik Tok content to last a lifetime. Wednesday’s viral moment was a nearly fatal one, and it featured Matt James, who you may remember as the first male African-American lead on The Bachelor (season 25). James is not very good at golf, once losing 36 balls in 7 holes during a round with Bachelor host Chris Harrison, but we won’t blame this group of photographers for not being up to speed on the state of James’ game.
That’s Gotta Hurt
What we will blame them for, however, is not seeing all the red flags and getting the hell out of dodge before James took a swing. Watch as James chunks his first attempt so badly that he misses the ball entirely, and then stick around for the shank, which, of course, was a direct hit on some poor photographer:
Will you accept this shank? 🌹
Courtesy of @MattJames919 from #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/6ZgYiEMMHO
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 10, 2022
Ummm… ouch. Golf Digest’s own Gabby Herzig got an even better angle of James’ blunder:
The Bachelor’s Matt James steps to the…FORERIGHTTTTTTTT pic.twitter.com/90OSYBZraz
— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) February 9, 2022
Not to sound harsh, but you really have no one to blame but yourself if you remained in the shank zone after 1. Seeing this dude roll up in overalls and no shoes, and 2. Seeing him dig a hole halfway to China on his first swing without making contact with the ball. Stupid games, stupid prizes.
The funniest part – James thought he “took a divot” on the first swing. Incredible:
"I think I was aiming for the wrong hole."
A breakdown from @MattJames919 and a follow-up with the victim. 😅 pic.twitter.com/1f5gpOZZYu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 10, 2022
At least everyone is OK, including the guy that got hit. Way to take it in stride, bud. That will be the last time he sits in the danger zone for anyone that isn’t in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, at minimum.
This article originally appeared on Golf Digest.
