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Rick Shiels, LIV Golf’s first major content creator partner, has over 2.9 million subscribers on YouTube. He even has a strapline for his YouTube channel as ‘Golf videos to entertain & educate golfers around the world.’ But I think he might need to take a look at the rules book himself on this one.
Just three weeks ago, LIV Golf announced that Shiels would be bringing four strands of content to each of the 14 LIV Golf events this season, one of which is his ‘Break 75’ series. However, it seems he has hit a hurdle early on and maybe isn’t playing by the official rules of golf when it comes to his content.
In his first Break 75 of the season, Shiels took on Riyadh Golf Course in Saudi Arabia prior to LIV Golf Riyadh getting underway. By the time he reaches the par four ninth hole in his first-night golf edition, he is already four over par.
But eagle-eyed viewers of his content, including The Bogey Men Podcast, noticed something a bit dodgy about his leaked 3 wood he hits off the tee.
It can clearly be seen that his ball bounces right out of the rough, onto the buggy path and through into the sandy wasteland area, as the camera zooms in and follows it.
“Hmm I’m a little bit worried it’s in the car park,” said Shiels on the tee box. “Should be alright.” Hmm, I won’t be holding you to that.
Then, as Rick is driving along the buggy path, he says, “I wanted a toey draw, but I actually flushed it and pushed it out to the right.”
And then, as if by magic, when Shiels approaches his ball, it’s surprisingly not where it was seen heading. Instead, it’s in the rough, short of where his ball was seen bouncing off to… See below expert illustration.
Red – where ball was heading. Green – where ball is found.
“Leaked it right, but it’s ok. It’s outside the ropes, so I would’ve been shouting fore then.”
I thought the ball was heading off to the car park? It was visibly bouncing hard right on the buggy path. But it’s now closer to the ropes with no mention of a drop of any kind. But if he was to take a free drop, then that would need to be not closer to the hole, right? No mention of that either, just a hop out of the buggy.
But what he does have, is an extremely better outcome than what he maybe should have been playing.
You can have a look for yourself in the video below. Spin along to 40 minutes 20 seconds.
He signs off the video with a four over par 76 and in Rick’s own words, “Some good golf in there, and some questionable golf.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
MORE: YouTuber Rick Shiels’ golf channel suggests Legends Tour “bought” followers
Main Image: LIV Golf
