PGA Championship: Turtles Damage Bunker, Go Viral Saving Gerard's Day
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Golf courses have long been a playground for reptiles, offering them ample space to explore. In March, during the Houston Open, cameras hilariously captured a caddie removing a turtle from the course—while it peed.
But it seems like turtles weren't done making their presence felt in professional golf, as they turned heads again, this time at the PGA Championship's Quail Hollow.
As the second major of the season kicked off with soft greens, Kardashian drama and 'mud ball' controversy, two uninvited visitors added another layer of drama to the event.
The turtles again!
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 15: A common snapping turtle sits on the 15th hole fairway during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte,...
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 15: A common snapping turtle sits on the 15th hole fairway during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) More
Getty Images
The first turtle made its appearance when PGA Tour's Ryan Gerard managed to salvage his par at the 14th hole.
Meanwhile, the second turtle proved to be far more stubborn, delaying the first round after wreaking havoc in a bunker on the same hole. There was a literaly delay in play as tournament organizers were forced to address the wrecked bunker left behind by one of the turtles.
Despite the disruptions, the first shelled intruder ended up playing an indirect role in saving the day for one of the tournament's top contenders.
Turtle Saves Ryan Gerard's Round at Quail Hollow
Playing in a major championship is the pinnacle for many golfers, and for Ryan Gerard, it was no different.
The PGA Tour pro found himself in the top two on the PGA Championship leaderboard, living out a dream on home turf.
"It's kind of always been a dream to play a major championship in my home state."
"I have a lot of fond memories of Quail Hollow and went out there and played really solid for almost the entire day, and I'm really happy with how everything went," Gerard reflected after stunning first round of 5-under-par.
But beyond his stellar performance, an unexpected guest, 'a snapping turtle' played a role he will never forget.
Turtle to the rescue 💀 pic.twitter.com/OvU7LhCSLD — Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) May 15, 2025
With six birdies and an eagle, Gerard was putting on a show. But as he approached the 14th hole, his momentum appeared as though it would come to an end.
His chip shot rolled well past the hole and off the green. It had enough speed that the ball may have continued into the water, if not for the turtle, who was there to save the day.
As TV cameras zoomed in to locate his ball, a small head poked out from the grass.
However, former PGA Champion Rich Beem, who was sharing broadcasting duties then, quickly corrected the assumption.
"That's a snapping turtle."
"That will rip your finger off," he added.
The turtle briefly examined the course before moving back to the lake. Interestingly, it also earned a warm round of applause from spectators.
Shortly after, Gerard pulled off an eagle on the 566-yard 15th hole, solidifying his position at the top of the leaderboard—something big names like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson failed to do.
More Golf: Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup Plan to Coerce Team USA Members Revealed
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
14 minutes ago
- New York Post
How Meghan Markle really feels about Prince Harry's royal rift
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have different perspectives about their rift with the royal family. A source told People Thursday that while Markle is focused on the future and 'is very business' about the couple's fallout with Harry's relatives, Harry, 40, is stuck in the past. 9 King Charles, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in England on Christmas Day 2017. Getty Images The insider claimed that Markle wishes her husband would 'feel less burdened by the past' and focus on their life together. Markle and Harry have been estranged from his family since they quit royal life in 2020 and moved to the US. 9 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Invictus Games in 2020. Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation 9 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Beyoncé concert. Instagram/@meghan 'They're aware of everything going on in England, but they're being left out of the details — there's clearly no trust,' the source told People about the couple. The Post has reached out to Buckingham Palace and reps for the Sussexes for comment. Harry has a particularly bad relationship with King Charles, 76, at the moment, after saying that his father 'won't speak' to him in his explosive BBC interview last month. 9 Meghan Markle, King Charles and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour 2018. Getty Images A palace insider recently told The Post that the cancer-stricken monarch 'simply doesn't trust Harry' because of the interview, which took place after Harry lost his appeal to maintain tax-payer funded security detail in the UK. 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' Harry said in the May 2 interview. 9 King Charles and Prince Harry at the 'Our Planet' premiere in London in April 2019. Samir Hussein/WireImage 9 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Germany in 2023. Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation 'Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book,' Harry further shared, referring to his 2023 memoir 'Spare,' adding, 'Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things.' 9 King Charles in Canada on May 27. Getty Images The Duke of Sussex also declared that he 'can't see a world' where he'd bring Markle and their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, back to England because of the court's decision. However, Harry still said that he 'would love' to reconcile with his family. Harry is also feuding with his brother Prince William. 9 Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in 2022. Getty Images The siblings were both at their father's coronation when he officially ascended to the throne in May 2023, but they reportedly avoided one another. Then, in August 2024, William, 42, and Harry were said to have 'kept their distance' once again while attending a memorial service in Norfolk for their late uncle, Robert Fellowes. After Harry's bombshell BBC interview, a source told Us Weekly that William is 'done' with his brother. 9 William and Harry interacting during Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022. 'When he becomes king, everybody thinks the divide will become even wider,' the source added of the Prince of Wales. Markle, for her part, has not spoken about the royal family drama in any of her latest projects, which include a Netflix lifestyle series and a new podcast. The 'Suits' alum hasn't been in the UK since Queen Elizabeth's funeral in Sept. 2022.
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Canadian Open: Rory McIlroy Stands Firm on Skipping Media with Harsh Retort
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy spoke to the press ahead of the start of the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto. It was his first public statement since he failed to meet with reporters at the PGA Championship and missed the Memorial Tournament. Naturally, this was one of the central topics of the questions he received that day. McIlroy defended his right to refuse interviews and mentioned other circumstances that were present at the time. "If we all wanted to, we could all bypass you guys and we could just go on this and we could go on social media and we could talk about our round and do it our own way," he said. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June 04, 2025 in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the RBC Canadian Open Pro-Am at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June 04, 2025 in Caledon, Ontario, Canada."We understand that that's not ideal for you guys and there's a bigger dynamic at play here, and I talk to you guys and I talk to the media a lot. I think there should be an understanding that this is a two-way understand the benefit that comes from you being here and giving us the platform and everything else." "But again, I've been beating this drum for a long time. If they want to make it mandatory, that's fine, but in our rules it says that it's not, and until the day that that's maybe written into the regulations, you're going to have guys skip from time to time, and that's well within our rights." The 2025 PGA Championship will always be remembered as the moment when McIlroy's driver was declared non-conforming, sparking a flurry of rumors. He said he was "pissed off" with the press for leaking the information, when asked about this circumstance. "I was a little pissed off." Rory McIlroy addressed his driver failing to pass testing during the PGA Championship and why he did not speak to the media about it. — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 4, 2025 The five-time major winner is certainly known for being a regular at press conferences before, during, and after tournaments. He also offers statements on a variety of golf-related topics outside of competitive events. However, a few weeks ago, he shared similar opinions about players' right not to give interviews. This occurred in the context of Collin Morikawa's controversial comments about how he "doesn't owe anyone anything" and therefore doesn't have to meet with reporters. The matter generated many reactions, some supportive like McIlroy's and some in denial. Some fans argued that the PGA Tour should require players to speak with the press during tournaments, as is the case in other sports. Even the legendary Jack Nicklaus was questioned about the issue during the Memorial Tournament. While Nicklaus did not condemn the behavior of the players who refused to speak to reporters, he used himself as an example, noting that he always met with the press, regardless of how he played. More Golf: RBC Canadian Open Field Weakened as PGA Tour Stars Withdraw
Newsweek
21 minutes ago
- Newsweek
PGA Tour Champ Predicts +5 US Open Winner amid Insane Conditions
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ben Griffin is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour right now, having won two tournaments and finishing in the top 10 in two others over the past six weeks. He certainly deserves to be on cloud nine these days. However, Griffin is absolutely grounded, as he's just one week away from making his US Open debut. In fact, he already had a practice round at the venue and was so impressed that he predicted a very bold winning score. "It's extremely hard right now," he said during an interview with the popular Smylie Show podcast. "This is actually going to be my first US Open, but I have played US Open practice rounds because I've been a first alternate a couple of times. So I've been on site at a few and this one's by far the hardest that I have played." "I don't know what the definition of too hard is, but if five over par being a winning score is too hard, then that's probably Oakmont right now." The native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, claimed to have made three birdies and nine pars during his practice round, while making bogey or double bogey on the remaining holes. He described how easy it is to hit the rough, adding that even shots that appear to be going into the fairway often end up in the thickest part of the turf. Griffin is so concerned about the challenges Oakmont will present to players, that he changed his travel plans for the weekend. "I was planning on playing it Monday and then showing up on Sunday night and doing Monday through Wednesday. I'm flying in Saturday afternoon to get out there again Sunday, just because the green complexes are crazy." There's no doubt that Oakmont will present a challenging golf course during the US Open. For several days, videos have circulated on social media showing the venue's setup, particularly the rough, leaving no doubt about its difficulty. A ball lays in thick rough prior to the start of the Barclays Singapore Open at at the Sentosa Golf Club on November 6, 2012 in Singapore. A ball lays in thick rough prior to the start of the Barclays Singapore Open at at the Sentosa Golf Club on November 6, 2012 in such as Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, and reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau have played practice rounds there, and their results confirmed their expectations. Scott and McIlroy told Eamon Lynch of Golfweek that they both had difficulty scoring well during their practice rounds. DeChambeau, for his part, posted a video on his YouTube channel, which has over 2 million subscribers, showing his practice round. The video clearly illustrates the challenging conditions they will face next week. More Golf: Bryson DeChambeau Seen Playing Golf at 'TPC White House'
