Incredible moment American golfer’s putt somehow bounces back out of the cup onto the green

Gordon Sargent ended his day as the top amateur golfer at the US Open, but he missed his final putt of the tournament in stunning fashion.

With a putt just yards from the par hole, Sargent’s putt went straight into the hole, but bounced off it and came to rest inches from the edge of the cup.

A stunned Sargent watched the ball and his caddy before finally hitting a bogey putt to end his par-four tournament.

The golfing world was stunned by what happened – with USGA officials providing an explanation later – saying Sargent’s ball came out due to a previous player or caddy having changed the lining of the hole.

Essentially, when another golfer pulled the stick out – likely in the group of Ryan Gerard and Mackenzie Hughes who played the hole before him – they may have dislodged said liner and the USGA didn’t have time to adjust before Sargent’s putt.

Gordon Sargent’s putt looked destined to go in but it bounced off the cup on the 18th hole

Golfers and commentators alike were shocked by what looked like a dead center putt that ended up missing.

Former world number 1 Luke Donald tweeted, ‘This is unacceptable! Will the @USGA fix this mid-rounder? This should never happen.

CBS golf analyst Trevor Immelman simply tweeted‘Cut not deep enough on 18?’

Professional golfer Hunter Mahan has also posted on social media, asking, ‘WTF just happened to Sargent????? How could this happen?!’

DP World Tour pro Julien Brun hit it off with Sargent, saying‘It happened to me 15 years ago at the French Am…still traumatized to this day!

“I called a referee who said he couldn’t do anything, just an extra hit on the map. It also requires the perfect putt/pace to hit the exact angle of the cut to bounce! #GolfStory’

PGA Tour Canada player Fredrik Lindblom took a more critical tone. ‘US Open staff don’t know how to put a cup?!?!,’ the Swede tweeted.

“This happens if the cup is not pushed in far enough to touch the top edge of the metal cup. If the cup is deep enough, it hits the ground. Unacceptable.’

Golfers watching around the world felt bad for Sargent, who had to card a bogey

Current and former professional golfers tweeted in outrage over the unfortunate incident

Following his failure, Sargent spoke to reporters reliving the events of the final hole.

“I had like a two-and-a-half-foot footer up the hill that hit the bottom of the hole and just bounced off me,” Sargent told reporters.

“I haven’t seen that happen in a while, but sometimes that’s how it is.”

Sargent won the Low Amateur title despite this mistake – finishing far ahead of his fellow amateur golfers.

The 2022 NCAA national champion is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University and finished four over par for the tournament.

Sargent still won the Low Amateur title as the best non-professional golfer at the US Open

Sargent had struggled in his first major tournament appearance at the Masters in April – losing to Sam Bennett.

“That’s kind of your goal as an amateur, just to be the bottom,” Sargent said.

‘Playing in my second major, I wasn’t as nervous as the first [the Masters]. It just gives you confidence and also shows what you need to work on.

“I know my good golf, I can compete with the best and I just need to limit mistakes a bit.”