U.S. Amateur players try to recreate Tiger Woods’ ‘greatest shot’ and it does NOT end well

The U.S. Amateur returns to Hazeltine National this week for the first time since 2006, as the best amateurs in the world take to the Minnesota brute, whose narrow fairways and small greens make it a ball-striker’s delight.

One guy who may not view Hazeltine as fondly is Tiger Woods, who narrowly lost the PGA Championship at the course in 2002 and 2009, the latter of which the only time he lost a major after being the 54-hole leader.

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That said, the course is the site of what Tiger has said is the greatest shot of his life. That came in 2002 on the 18th hole in the second round, when Woods was nestled under the lip of a fairway bunker, with the ball below his feet, over 200 yards from the hole, with wind howling off the left and towering trees between him and the green. He took 3-iron, picked it off the sand and hit it inside 20 feet. Oh, yeah, and he made the putt for birdie.

Immediately after, announcers called it “one of the best shots” they had ever seen, and last year, Tiger confirmed to TaylorMade that it was his best ever, saying he’s “never felt contact that solid in his life.” Given all the remarkable shots that he’s hit over his career, that Tiger picked this one should be proof enough of how incredible it was, but if you needed any more confirmation, the USGA has us covered.

A day before the opening round of the U.S. Amateur, the USGA asked a few competitors to try and recreate the remarkable shot. Take a look to see how it went.

Woof. By our rough count, that’s seven shots into the lip, seven cleared the lip but judging by the tracers and reactions, none found the green. And these guys had it easier than Woods, with what seemed like much less wind, far fewer trees between them and the hole, and the assist of 22 years of club technology advancements.

The U.S. Amateur began Monday with a field of 312 players competing over two rounds of stroke play at Hazeltine and co-host Chaska Town Course. After Tuesday’s second round, the field will be cut to 64 and six rounds of match play will determine the national champion.