Justin Rose Miraculously Saved Par From Behind a Fence at PGA National

The Englishman escaped from a tricky situation in expert fashion at the Cognizant Classic.

Recreational golfers never hesitate to remind one another of an age-old golf adage: No pictures on the scorecard. Hit an ugly worm-burner that skids down the fairway and it somehow winds up as a tap-in birdie? No one has to know. 

But after Justin Rose made one of the more miraculous pars we’ve seen in a while at PGA National, it’s safe to assume the Englishman would welcome some visuals on his card. 

On the par-4 13th at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, Rose hit his approach shot from underneath a fence. Yes, you read that properly. The following screen grab is just as alarming as it is impressive. 

Incredible @JustinRose99 👏 https://t.co/INs32VRQqb pic.twitter.com/fcUQYguR3u

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 29, 2024

Rose’s 270-yard drive was millimeters from being declared “out of bounds,” but since his ball came to rest ever so slightly inside the fence’s edge, he was permitted to play the shot, rather than incurring a two-stroke penalty.

The only caveat: Players are not entitled to free relief from objects that “define or mark the course boundary,” according to the USGA’s Rules of Golf. Golfers are also not permitted to move course boundary markers to make room for their shot. One must simply play the ball as it lies in such a predicament, and that is exactly was Rose did. 

With a rhythmic, half-swing motion, Rose escaped the precarious situation, his iron barely grabbing onto the fence in the process. His punch shot put him in perfect position in the center of the fairway, with a 64-yard wedge shot left for his third. Rose stuck it to 18 inches and tapped in for his par—simple stuff! 

Rose finished at 2 under, tied for 50th at the Cognizant Classic (formerly the Honda Classic). With soft conditions leading to low scoring at the traditionally challenging venue, Chad Ramey and S.H. Kim lead at 7 under. Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked player in the field, came in with a 4-under 67.