During LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, professional golfer Charl Schwartzel experienced an unusual disruption when a largemouth bass consumed his tee shot on the seventh hole. The incident occurred on the 134-yard, par-3 hole, where Schwartzel's ball landed on the green, spun backward, and rolled into the water.
Immediately after the ball entered the water, a largemouth bass emerged and swallowed it. While largemouth bass typically prey on fish, amphibians, and small mammals, this particular fish demonstrated an unexpected appetite for a golf ball. "What an athlete," the reporting noted.
Under golf's rules, an animal moving a ball at rest is usually not penalized, and the ball is replaced. However, as Schwartzel's ball had already entered a penalty area, he incurred a one-stroke penalty and ultimately made bogey on the hole. Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, was competing in the event that took place from August 6-9.
Wildlife encounters are not uncommon on golf courses, with sightings of alligators, snakes, birds, and even larger mammals frequently interrupting play. However, a fish actively ambushing a golf ball as it entered the water is considered a rare occurrence.