Home/Golf

via Imago

via Imago

One of the famous trends in the golf world for players is shooting their age. And the PGA Tour, veteran Arnold Palmer is known widely for achieving this feat. Another player from LPGA is in town who did something similar while playing the senior’s golfing round.

Arnold Palmer is one of the most celebrated golfers ever to exist. His contribution to the game is uncanny, and his achievements are innumerable. Another player, on similar lines, is Gary Player who recently beat his age and claimed he could do it with his eyes closed. He admitted experiencing golf getting easier for him with age. Jack Nicklaus has also achieved almost everything in the golf scene. Recently, he shot a 71 at the age of 77. But it is an 84-year-old legend who has outclassed everyone.

Big Mama continues to add feats to her name under LPGA banner

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The 84-year-old legend JoAnne Carner has won 43 LPGA titles during her much-celebrated career. She is currently at the US Women’s Senior Open in Portland, Ore. And she is adding a new feat under her name. In the first round, she shot eight-over 80. Ad topped it off with a birdie on her last hole.

She has shot her age or better since the tournament’s inauguration 2018. And in a press conference, she admitted that she’s been practicing a lot. And it was continuous work all day to shoot the number.

USGA posted an Instagram thread about the feat as well. It reads, “LEGENDARY! 😱 For the sixth time in the #USSeniorWomensOpen, 84-year-old JoAnne Carner shoots her age or better.” The first picture within the post itself reads, “80. JoAnne Carner breaks her age.” The other two are visual snippets of her taking the shot and the heartwarming smile the shot added to her face.

Carner, affectionately known as Big Mama, bogeyed her opening hole. And she carded a double bogey on the 12th hole. But the game changed when she turned in five-over 41, making the sub-84 round possible. So, while the first three holes witnessing three straight bogeys did not help, she caught up in the last six holes. And she closed the game with four pars, one bogey, and a birdie.

Also Read: Amid Rising PGA Tour Tensions, Scottie Scheffler Announces His Latest $10,000,000 Venture

However, in the past couple of seasons, Carner dropped hints that this might be it. But after beating her age by four shots, when asked if it was possible to score an even lower number, she didn’t hesitate. Her answer was a yes in the good old Big Mama fashion.

Arnold Palmer and Gary Player prove that age is just a number

The seven-time major championship winner, Arnold Palmer, shot a 71 at the age of 71 in 2001. He fired a 1-under 71 during the fourth round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (now the CareerBuilder Challenge). To recap the historic feat, he began with an opening 81. He carded 79-75-71 before missing the cut in the 90-hole event.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Palmer expressed that he finds golf fun. He enjoys the competition and the feeling of being out in the field immensely. If Arnold Palmer can get nervous after so many years of playing, then that teaches us a lot about handling the game every time, like it’s out first. Before him, Sam Snead is believed to be the golfer shooting his age on tour. He carded 67 in the second round at the 1979 Quad Cities Open.

In Augusta National, Gary Player recently beat his age and claimed he could achieve the feat with his eyes closed. At the Palm Beach Kennel Club, he said he carded a 76 at the Masters on a Sunday in April. He did not make the cut, but it is a fantastic personal win at his age. And an inspiring one for others. He claimed, at 64 years old, it was the 3,072nd time he could shoot his age or better. The nine-time major winner first shot his age in 2000.

At 87, he’s golf’s global ambassador and is often in the news for his unabashed opinions. Recently, he shared some fitness tips with the golf world, and why not? He’s one of the fittest players at his age. He has experienced everything from taking ice baths to being a regular at the gym. Gary’s goal is to live to be 100. What do you think about this golfing trend?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Another professional star, Jack Nicklaus, has achieved almost everything in the golf scene, but he’ll have to try harder to shoot his age or better. Recently, he shot a 71, aged 77. The event was at the Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. Do you want to see Nicklaus’s name alongside Palmer, Player, and LPGA star Carner?

Watch this story – Months After Securing His Maiden PGA Tour Victory, Davis Riley Puts an Incredibly Smart Move to Action At a $9M Rolex Sponsored Event