The new 2025 PGA Tour season has kicked off with record-low scoring in the opening round.
But for PGA rookies, the dangers of Tour-standard courses take a brutal toll.
William Mouw was playing well at the American Express at La Quinta's Pete Dye Stadium Course, but disaster struck on the iconic 16th hole, which features a giant greenside bunker.
The American rookie from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles captured the attention of the entire golf world when he shot 13 on a notoriously difficult par 5, a rare eight-bogey.
Mouw struggled to read the putting surface, and the contours of the green ejected the ball in every direction beyond the hole, a reminder of the intricacies of the world's best golf courses.
The hole is known as one of the hardest holes on the circuit. It requires precision and courage and is a test for all golfers, especially those new to the tour.
Mouw's difficulties began with a wayward tee shot that found the rough and set the tone for the rest of the hole.
When he found the majestic bunker on his second shot, he would have known that making par would be a difficult task, but certainly wouldn't have expected what would happen.
Since then, shot after shot has missed the mark, with deep lids and unpredictable dance floors keeping him firmly planted in the gaping bunker.
When he finally reached the green, his putt veered from left to right, and breathless onlookers could barely see Mu's pain.
A few minutes on this hole felt like an hour, which gave in to the difficulty of the game and the harrowing fact that long stretches of aggressive golf will be meaningless if you blow up on a hole.
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