The Scorecard Nightmare: Poston recorded a septuple-bogey 12 on the par-5 13th hole at TPC River Highlands, despite reaching greenside in two shots.
Water Woes: Three of Poston's shots found the water hazard guarding the green, with his chip shots repeatedly rolling back into the pond.
Historical Context: This marks the highest single-hole score on the PGA Tour since Pavon's 12 in 2025, making it one of the most talked-about blow-up holes in recent professional golf.
Why This Matters: It serves as a powerful reminder that even elite professionals can experience catastrophic moments under pressure, highlighting the fine line between success and disaster in golf.
Final Outcome: Poston finished his round with a 6-over 76, dropping from 3-under on the day to solo 69th place in the 72-man field.
The 13th hole at TPC River Highlands is traditionally a scoring opportunity—the lone par-5 on the back nine and a frequent birdie spot during the Travelers Championship, an event known for low scores. Poston's drive found the fairway, and his second shot from 229 yards landed in a greenside bunker. That's where the trouble began.
From the bunker, with his ball nestled against the lip, Poston intentionally left his third shot short of the green to avoid the pond guarding the opposite side. His chip from the fairway cut, however, rolled through the green and into the water. After taking a penalty drop on the bank, his next chip also rolled back into the water. Then another. And another.
Poston explained to Golfweek: *"Putting it, I feel like it's just going to hop and that takes all the speed out of it. And you've got this big false front you got to get it over. So, my worry with trying to putt it was it would not have enough speed to really get there."*
Finally, on his 10th shot, Poston found the green, but missed a 13-foot putt before tapping in for a 12. The nightmare was compounded when he made double-bogey on the next hole (the driveable par-4 15th), turning a promising round into a 76 that left him four strokes ahead of only three players.
Poston later showed resilience on social media, tweeting a GIF of Tom Brady (who also wore No. 12) with the caption: *"When in NE area I guess. Nice bounce back par on 14. On to the next!"*
What was J.T. Poston's score on the 13th hole?
Poston recorded a septuple-bogey 12 on the par-5 13th hole at the Travelers Championship.
How did Poston end up with a 12 after being near the green in two shots?
His bunker shot came up short, then his chip went into the water. He hit three more chips that also found the water before finally reaching the green on his 10th shot, then missed a putt and tapped in for 12.
How did this affect his overall tournament finish?
Poston shot a 6-over 76, dropping to solo 69th place in a 72-man field.
Is this the worst score on a single hole on the PGA Tour recently?
It is the highest since Matthieu Pavon's octuple-bogey 12 at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.
Resilience Matters: Even after a catastrophic hole, Poston bounced back with a par on 14 and maintained perspective in his post-round comments.
Course Management Lessons: Poston acknowledged that in hindsight, he would have played more conservatively. This highlights how risk-reward decisions can snowball under pressure.
Who This Affects Most: Golfers of all skill levels can relate—every player has experienced a blow-up hole. The key is how you respond to adversity.
Practical Step: When facing a difficult chip near water hazards, consider the safest play rather than the aggressive one. Sometimes, taking a 7 instead of attempting a perfect shot to save par can prevent a 12.
Have you ever had a hole that spiraled out of control like J.T. Poston's? What's the highest score you've ever recorded on a single hole? Share your story in the comments!
*Share this with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!*
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