Golf Superstitions: Worst Possible Announcer's Curse

Some people believe in superstitions, others don't. Personally I don't believe in most superstitions, but I do find golf superstitions interesting to study.

One common superstition is the announcer's curse. When the announcer says someone never misses a 4 foot putt, and then he misses the putt. When the announcer says a guy hits the ball very straight, he misses a fairway 30 yards off line. When the announcer says he hits wedges very well, he spins a wedge off the green. When the announcer says someone is good at chip shots, he chunks one.

And on Saturday at the 2011 AT&T National, one of the worst announcer's curses happened.

First of all, some background information. In the 3rd round, the PGA Tour moved the tee on the 13th hole way, way, WAY up. It was supposed to be a 393 yard Par 4, but the PGA moved it all the way up to the ladies tee to 316 yards, enticing players to hit driver to give them a chance to drive the green. (I found this move RIDICULOUS, by the way. Just saying).

Charlie Wi, however, was smart and conservative with his play, and laid up with a fairway wood, leaving a short wedge shot to the green. That's a good move that keeps bogey out of play. Right? TECHNICALLY yes. BUT!!!!!

Wi airmailed his second shot, landing 30 feet past the hole and did not spin back. He lagged his birdie putt to 3 feet short.

He has a slightly downhill. but short, par putt. Now, Charlie Wi is one of the better putters on the PGA, and up until this point, did not make a three-putt in 203 holes, the longest active streak. The announcers, so confident that Wi will make this one, announced proudly about the streak and how Wi is such a good putter and such.

And then, Wi pulled the putt, and it MISSED. It caught the right lip and spun out and rolled to 5 feet past the hole. And then Wi pulled his bogey putt and it missed again. He limped away with a four-putt double bogey.

Although he still shot a respectable third round and was only 2 back after 54 holes, Wi probably had a hangover of that four-putt in the final round, shooting a 79 in the final round and he would finish 15 back of the winner Nick Watney.

And thus, this is one of the most coincidental examples of the announcer's curse.

But let's look at the bright side. Wi's smart play did take bogey out of play. He did not make a bogey. He made a DOUBLE bogey!!!

And also, his three-putt avoidance streak still continues because he technically did not three putt. He FOUR-putted. And a 4-putt is NOT a 3-putt!!! Just kidding.