Sergio Garcia hits ‘totally submerged’ golf ball from pond and makes par

Sergio Garcia has become one of the game’s better escape artists, scrambling from some of the most precarious positions to limit the damage. After finishing bogey-bogey Sunday to give away the Northern Trust Open, Garcia started Thursday’s opening round at the Honda Classic with more shaky form in some brutal conditions.

Sergio began with a bogey on his first hole and made a triple on his third of the day. Then on the 18th tee (his ninth hole of the day), it was looking like he’d go out in 40 at PGA National after rocketing his drive into the pond down the right side. But Garcia immediately went to the rain gear and decided to take a hack through the water and mud to get his ball back in play. It worked well enough and he’d scramble to make his par and post an outward 39.

The blast went 64 feet into the fairway, and he’d rip a 206-yard shot from there to get safely on the green in three. The PGA Tour compiled the eventful par into an enjoyable Vine.

It was a fairly critical save, because Sergio has turned it on a bit to get back in play on his second nine. He’s made three birdies in a four-hole stretch and is now just 2-over and T55. That number could look better and better if the wind stays up as the rest of the field gets onto the course throughout the afternoon.