WATCH: PGA Tour Pro Bends 9-Iron Around A Tree In Epic Escape

Nick Hardy wrapped his 9-iron around a tree playing a remarkable recovery shot at the 3M Open, going on to make the birdie putt as well

Nick Hardy bends his 9-iron after playing a shot at the 3M Open
(Image credit: Twitter: @PGATOUR)
Paul Higham
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Nick Hardy produced a remarkable recovery shot at the 3M Open when he bent his 9-iron, quite literally, around a tree to end up making a birdie on his final hole.

Stuck behind a tree, with 176 yards to the hole, with a carry over water, is not a shot many of us would take on - especially as it required maximum effort to hook a 9-iron with zero follow through.

Hardy, though, is made of sterner stuff and not only took the shot on, but played it magnificently, bending the ball beautifully onto the green - while also bending his club around the tree.

The 9-iron's sacrifice was definitely worth it though, especially when the 27-year-old then rolled in the 11-foot putt he'd left himself for a closing birdie and a round of 65.

"I had 176 hole, 153 front, but I had to aim at the right side of the green," Hardy explained. "The way the green peels like that, I had to carry it at least almost to pin high to 176.

"I had an angle to hit the shot, I just had to hook a 9-iron with no follow-through, so that was a tough shot, that was the tough part about the shot.

"I was in between 8 and 9. And 8 would have took me over the green probably but I knew I would have gotten safely, but I took the risk the hitting the 9 and it paid off.

"When I hit it I knew it was going to be pretty good because I caught it perfect and I knew it felt like it was going to hook a little bit. 

"I almost feel like I didn't even have to look after that because I was just worried about carrying the water. Once I hit it, I was like OK, it's going to be pretty good."

The 9-iron is not quite dead though, with Hardy's coach quickly bending it back into shape just in case a replacement can't be found.

"He bent it back, yeah, right away. He's really good with club repair. Unfortunately for you guys, it looks much better now. 

"I've got it in my hand right now just to keep working on it at lunchtime just in case Titleist can't get me one in time, but we'll see."

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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