Jordan Spieth's eventful WGC Matchplay campaign continued on Thursday when the star inadvertently smashed up a fan's iPhone.
But it was an errand tee shot, rather than any kind of furious outburst, that did the damage - with the spectator even thanking the three time major champion afterwards. And remarkably, the American recovered to halve the hole with opponent with compatriot Taylor Montgomery.
Conditions were blustery as Spieth took to the par-3 seventh, and it showed as his effort flew beyond the 212 yards to the green. And commentator Colin Swatton then told viewers of the remarkable twit of events that followed: "Okay, well Jordan Spieth's first shot flew into the gallery, hit a gentleman to my left in an orange shirt and then bounced down and hit the young guy's phone... broke the phone and the ball is still in play just leaning up against the cart path."
After a rules official got involved, the 29-year-old managed to get up and down for a halve, although it was Montgomery who would go on to win the contest 2&1. But the fan involved was anything but perturbed, and was later filmed on the PGA Tour Facebook page giving his version of events.
"We're sitting there on the seventh, behind the green," he explained. "I'm watching Jordan tee off, you know, excited to see Jordan play. He tees off, I'm watching him swing, and everyone starts saying 'hey it's coming long'. Next thing I know, it feels like somebody's dead-legging me, I look down and I see Jordan's ball trickling down and was like 'oh c**p man, that hit my phone'."
Sure enough, he then checked his phone to find it "shattered," with Spieth then approaching him to apologise, with he promise of making contact afterwards: "So it was pretty surreal getting to see Jordan and talk to him and stuff. And I was like 'don't worry about it just get up and down'. And he ended up making that 30-foot putt, so how cool is that?"
He added: "So thank you Jordan for hitting me man," although the fan stopped short of confirming that the star had agreed to purchase him a replacement. Mind you, it's not the only time he's been in the limelight for an extraordinary recovery this week.
On Wednesday, he sealed a 4&3 win over Mackenzie Hughes with a miraculous approach shot from an awkward lie, his chip rolling perfectly on the green before rolling into the hole. And the excited star later swore on interview as he analysed his amazing effort.
But the former world No 1 is up against it to keep himself alive. He needs to beat Shane Lowry on Friday and hope Montgomery loses to Mackenzie Hughes in order to force a three-man playoff - and give himself a chance of progressing.
