Golfer furious as official snaps driver moments before playoff in buggy mishap

03 September 2023 , 20:47

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Anne van Dam's driver was snapped on the way to the playoff hole

Ladies European Tour star Anna van Dam was left unimpressed at the Women's Irish Open, after her driver was snapped whilst being driven to a playoff hole by a tournament official.

Van Dam carded a one-under-par 71 in her final round at Dromoland Castle, tying herself at the top of the leaderboard alongside Lisa Pettersson andSmilla Tarning Soenderby following 72 holes.

After learning she had earned a spot in the playoff, the Dutch star was picked up by a cart-driving official and taken back to the 18th tee for the three-way decider. It was not a simple route back, though, as Van Dam was left without a driver to tackle the deciding par-5 18th.

The official driving the co-leader looked to take a route back off the fairway, and this is where the chaos ensued.

The official attempted to drive under some spectator rope, and whilst she and the Dutch star made it through in one piece, Van Dam's equipment did not. The rope in question caught the co-leader's driver, before her whole bag fell off the cart and onto the floor.

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Quickly realising, the pair hopped out of their seats to retrieve the bag, only to find Van Dam's big stick without the club head. The mishap could not have come at a worst time for the world No. 127, and her frustrations were laid bare as she let out an expletive rant.

But there was nothing either Van Dam or the official could do, and the co-leader was left with no option but to head to the playoff tee without her driver. And she quickly composed herself, hitting a superb tee shot with her three wood to keep her well in the hunt for the title.

The Dutch Tour star then hit an equally impressive second shot by finding the putting surface, matching that of her opponent Soenderby. The third competitor Pettersson was soon eliminated after only managing to make par, whilst Van Dam and Soenderby were left with eagle putts.

Unfortunately for Van Dam her heroics with her three wood were in vain, as she saw her putt miss whilst Soenderby found the bottom of the hole to land her maiden Ladies European Tour title. Van Dam's chaotic miss leaves the world No. 127 in 13th in the season-long race to Costa Del Sol Rankings.

Joshua Lees