For the average stick, birdies are an occasion to be celebrated. They show up sporadically, often without warning, and disappear just as fast, leaving golfers chasing that fleeting high, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Eagles, however, are an even rarer bird. For the mid-handicappers among us, they require an elusive convergence of ability, course conditions and luck, and when the opportunity for one appears, it doesn’t wait around long.
Just ask this unfortunate SOB, who is going viral for leaving a one-foot tap-in for his first-ever eagle short. Yes, we said SHORT. Ladies and gentleman, viewer discretion is advised.
⛳️🦅 First ever eagle putt and this happens… 🫨 pic.twitter.com/zog9FhDfi4
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 10, 2025
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Traumatizing stuff … and that’s just for us. We can’t even imagine what this man is going through, especially as his yip-tastic miss pings around the Internet like a cue ball. To make matters even worse (remember, things can ALWAYS get worse), Reddit commenters are already accusing him of anchoring. According to the Rules of Golf, anchoring carries a two-stroke penalty in stroke play, turning this would-be eagle into a bogey. Tough stuff.
But hey, at least he has the support of his friends to get him through this… JUST KIDDING. The clip ends with the filmer cackling her head off as his putt fails to even graze the cup. Needless to say, keep this man in your thoughts and prayers this week, and the next time you step over an eagle putt, remember that no matter the distance or the stakes, you absolutely can’t leave it short.
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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com