The shank. Golf’s most-dreaded and gruesome shot scares some golfers to the point of refusing to even utter the S-word. And one announcer did his best to avoid it as well.
We head out to Le Golf National, site of the 2018 Ryder Cup, the 2024 Olympics, and this week’s French Open. On Day 1, local favorite Matthieu Pavon was in perfect position on the par-4 13th after flushing a 300-yard drive. Then, well, that S-word happened.
Pavon shanked his approach, and it was a miracle that his golf ball stayed dry. It rattled around in the trees before settling in the rough. And it drew quite a reaction from the Sky Sports crew, in particular, on-course reporter Wayne “Radar” Riley. Have a look and listen:
"Oh dear, was that a shank?!" đź«Ł#FedExOpenDeFrance pic.twitter.com/Cia3aMQ1U0
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 10, 2024
“That was a Davey Crockett!” Riley exclaims. “That was a German tank!”
LOL OK then. Anyway, here’s a look a the the play-by-play as Pavon recovered nicely to make only a bogey:
Regardless of what you call it, though, Pavon wasn’t enjoying the situation. Something the entire announcing crew noted.
“Nothing like the sound of a shank,” Riley continued.
“Unless you’re the one shanking it,” someone in the booth added.
Amen to that.