The Russell Knox Cow Shot--the True Story

[jaxbeachpackerfan]

With Russell Knox hitting the leader board a couple of times in recent weeks, his cow shot has been getting some air time in the broadcast booth.  I believe Sir Nick described it as a wayward shot that hit a cow out of bounds in the vicinity of the green, bounced off the cow back in bounds onto the green, whereupon Russell made the putt to win the tournament (somewhere in Scotland).  If it wasn't Sir Nick recounting it this way, at least on retelling by other announcers it has been relayed in this manner.

 

I play frequently with Russell's father.  After our round today, we asked him about the shot.  In fact, Russell did hit a cow.  In fact, it did bounce back on the green.  In fact, he did make the putt for a birdie.  And, in fact, it happened in a tournament that he won.

 

In fact, the cow was NOT out of bounds.  It was just behind the green and Russell's airmailed shot caught the cow right on the haunch and bounced back to the green.  The course was built in some sort of preserve and by law or regulation the livestock were allowed to continue to roam over the course (they had electric fences around the greens).

 

In fact, this happened on the 5th hole, early in the tournament, NOT on the 18th to provide the final margin of victory.

 

Still, very cool story.  

[westy]

Cool indeed, not that rare over here though! Mind you it's rare it leads to a win.

 

We have many courses on common land, or in national parks where horses, cows and goats do wander around happily (till they get a ball in the a@se).

 

Another of our laws that date back hundreds and hundreds of years.

 

In the New Forest (not new of course) I drilled a driver into a cow about a hundred yards off the tee.....caused a small stampede.

[Salmon]

Should play a couple of courses on the fringes of melbourne here in Aus, there are about 4-5 times as many kangaroos on the course than there could be people lol

[Blade]

OK, but don't ever tell someone their course is a cow pasture.  Bad things happen.  Just trust me on that.

[westy]

Leads to some interesting moments for sure. Yep and roos are a bit quicker than cows and sheep.....

 

Of course you get relief from animal 'waste' under most of the local rules, at this point I'd rather have roos than cows! Guessing roo cr@p ain't nearly as damp!

[Salmon]

Not nearly as damp but if your not careful and if its the wrong time of the season, you can get attacked by a very big buck roo lol