A Sunday to Forget at TPC River Highlands
In the heart of Cromwell, Connecticut, TPC River Highlands is known for hosting the prestigious Travelers Championship, an event typically characterized by a flurry of birdies and aggressive play. However, for J.T. Poston, one particular Sunday turned into a historical disaster that left fans and commentators speechless.
While the number 12 is legendary in New England (thanks to the iconic Tom Brady), it is the last number any golfer wants to see on their scorecard for a single hole. Poston experienced exactly that at the par-5 13th hole, recording a staggering septuple-bogey 12.
The Anatomy of a Golf Disaster
The most baffling part of this collapse? Poston was only 80 feet from the hole after his first two strokes. What followed was a sequence of events that felt more like a nightmare than a professional tournament:
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- The Miscalculation: His third shot landed against the lip of the greenside bunker, moving only 22 feet. Poston later admitted he intentionally played it short to avoid the pond.
- The Water Hazard: His subsequent chip went through the green and plunged straight into the water.
- The Cycle of Frustration: In a cruel twist of fate, he rinsed two more shots. Each time, the ball hit the bank only to roll back into the water.
- The Final Struggle: He finally reached the green on his 10th shot, missed a 13-foot comebacker, and eventually tapped in for a 12.
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A Rare PGA Tour Occurrence
This score marks one of the highest single-hole results on the PGA Tour in recent memory, rivaling Matthieu Pavon’s octuple-bogey from the previous year’s RBC Canadian Open.
Reflecting on the moment, Poston explained to Golfweek that his hesitation to putt from the bank—fearing the “false front” of the green—led to the disaster. “In hindsight, I would have just hit to 12 feet and made my 7,” he admitted, noting that he was sitting in 40th place before the collapse.
Finding Humor in the Chaos
The fallout was immediate. Following a double bogey two holes later, Poston finished the day with a 6-over 76, plummeting to 69th place. Despite the heartbreak, the golfer showed great sportsmanship and a sense of humor.
Taking to social media, Poston shared a GIF of Tom Brady—the ultimate New England number 12—with a caption: “When in NE area I guess. Nice bounce back par on 14. On to the next!”
While TPC River Highlands provided a stunning backdrop for the tournament, for J.T. Poston, it will forever be the site of the hole that wouldn’t end.
