Stories
Even the greats: golf stories for your first nine
Every golfer has a hard hole, including the best in the world. We tell famous moments kindly, then turn each one into a calm lesson you can use on your first nine.
By The First 9 Team. Facts come from official and news sources listed on each story. Illustrations are our own.
Get the next story in your inbox
Even the greats have bad holes. We’ll send the next one, and its beginner lesson, free.
You’re in.
The next story, and its beginner lesson, will land in your inbox. Take your time with it.
That didn’t go through. Try again in a moment, or write hello@thefirst9.com and we’ll add you by hand.
Latest stories
- Darren Fichardt in Little Rock: Free Up and Play Your Game
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · At the Simmons Bank Championship in Little Rock, Darren Fichardt stopped squeezing, freed up, and finished birdie-eagle to win. A calm lesson for your first nine. - Novak Called It Three Terrible Shots. Then He Moved On
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Leading the Mexico Open, Andrew Novak bogeyed the 10th with what he called three terrible shots, then birdied the next three. A calm first-nine lesson. - Yuri Yoshida Bogeyed the Last Hole and Still Won
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Yuri Yoshida won her first LPGA title in Korea despite a bogey on the 18th. Why one shaky finish never cancels a good nine for beginners. - 16 Pars and One Birdie: How Yuto Katsuragawa Won
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Yuto Katsuragawa won the DP World Tour's Genesis Championship with 16 pars, one birdie and a nervous bogey. Why steady beats spectacular on your first nine. - Pauline Roussin-Bouchard's Hot-Weather Fix: Pep in Your Step
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Last year the Malaysian heat left Pauline Roussin-Bouchard sluggish. At the 2026 Maybank Championship she added pep to her walk and opened with a 64. A simple… - Zach Johnson Laid Up and Won the Masters: Play Your Plan
Even the Greats · · In 2007 Zach Johnson never went for a par-5 green in two at Augusta, and he won the Masters. A beginner lesson in laying up to a distance you like. - Harrington in the Burn Twice, Then Champion: Next Shot
Even the Greats · · Padraig Harrington found the Barry Burn twice on the 72nd hole of the 2007 Open, saved a six, then won the playoff. A next-shot lesson for beginners. - Retief Goosen's 2001 U.S. Open: Three Putts, Then a Title
Even the Greats · Simmons Bank Championship week · · Retief Goosen missed a two-footer to win the 2001 U.S. Open, then won the playoff the next day. He played Little Rock at the 2026 Simmons Bank Championship. The… - Ernie Els' Six Putts: When Short Putts Feel Impossible
Even the Greats · · Ernie Els six-putted the first hole of the 2016 Masters, then finished the round and spoke honestly about it. What every nervous beginner can take from his day. - Greg Norman's 1996 Masters: Be Kind After a Tough Round
Even the Greats · · Greg Norman led the 1996 Masters by six, shot 78, and got a hug from Nick Faldo on the 18th green. What beginners can learn about a hard day. - Ian Woosnam's 15th Club: Check Your Bag Before the 1st Tee
Even the Greats · · At the 2001 Open, Ian Woosnam found a 15th club in his bag on the 2nd tee and took a two-shot penalty. A calm first-tee check for beginners. - Kevin Na's 16 on One Hole: Why Beginners Need a Max Score
Even the Greats · · At the 2011 Texas Open, Kevin Na made a 16 on a par 4 and still finished his round. Why a simple max-score rule keeps your first nine fun. - Thomas Bjørn's Bunker: Get It Out First, Then Breathe
Even the Greats · · At the 2003 Open, Thomas Bjørn needed three swings to escape one bunker. What his honest words teach beginners about sand, nerves and the next shot. - Arnold Palmer in 1966: Play the Hole, Not the Record
Even the Greats · · Arnold Palmer led the 1966 U.S. Open by seven with nine to play, chased a record, and lost a playoff to Billy Casper. Why beginners should play the hole. - Lexi Thompson's 2017 Ruling: Mark Your Ball, Then Let Go
Even the Greats · · In 2017 Lexi Thompson learned mid-round of a four-shot penalty for a ball replaced a little off its spot, then shot 67 anyway. How to mark your ball, and move on. - Scott Hoch's Two-Footer: Pick a Line, Then Trust It
Even the Greats · · Scott Hoch read his two-foot putt to win the 1989 Masters from every angle, then missed. Why beginners do better when they pick a line and simply roll it. - Craig Stadler's Towel: It's Fine to Ask a Rules Question
Even the Greats · · In 1987 Craig Stadler knelt on a towel to keep his pants dry and was disqualified for it. Why beginners should never be shy about asking how a rule works. - Garcia Took a Penalty in the Bushes and Won the Masters
Even the Greats · · At the 2017 Masters, Sergio Garcia drove into the bushes on 13, took an unplayable, saved par, and won his first major. Why taking your medicine is smart golf. - Dustin Johnson's Bunker That Didn't Look Like One
Even the Greats · · At the 2010 PGA, Dustin Johnson grounded his club in sand that was ruled a bunker and missed a playoff. Why a quick look at the local rules is a beginner's friend. - Stewart Cink, Tom Watson and the 2009 Open: Good Shot, Bad Bounce
Even the Greats · Simmons Bank Championship week · · Cink arrives in Little Rock at No. 1. In 2009 he beat Tom Watson, 59, after Watson’s great final approach ran over the green. - Rory Sabbatini's 62: Stay Out of Your Own Way
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · Simmons Bank Championship week · · A closing 62 that tied the tournament record, and a five-minute alignment-stick routine for one aim and one thought. - Vijay Singh at 63: Play Sensible, Keep It in Play
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Fresh off a win at 63, Singh’s plan for Pleasant Valley: play sensible and keep the ball in play. Same plan for your first nine. - Austin Smotherman: 99 Tries, Then Two Wins in a Row
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · First PGA Tour win in his 100th start, then a second straight win in Bermuda when wind wiped out the final round. - The Putt the Wind Blew Back In at St Andrews
Viral Moment, Beginner Lesson · · A missed putt, a gust, and the ball rolled back into the hole. Wind is hard for everyone, so laugh it off. - Charlie Woods' First Hole-in-One: Celebrate Your Firsts
Trending Again, Beginner Lesson · · A 2024 clip making the rounds again: Charlie’s first ace with Tiger beside him, and why every golf first is worth celebrating. - Ken Duke & Bob Toski: a Simmons Bank Championship story
· A First Tee kids clinic, a 16-inch metal rod in Duke’s back, and the teacher, now 100, who built a swing around it. - Scottie Scheffler’s putting slump: stop chasing perfect
· World No. 1, around 160th in putting, and the small change that let him stop chasing perfect. - Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst: recover from a bad drive
· A hooked drive on the 72nd hole, a bunker shot from about 55 yards, and a par to win the U.S. Open. - Adam Hadwin’s self-reported penalty: ask about local rules
Tour Week, Beginner Lesson · · Tour week: a self-reported relief mistake, and the one question to ask before any round. - Doug Sanders 1970: why short putts deserve a routine
· About three feet to win The Open, and why stepping away from a short putt is always allowed. - Mickelson at Winged Foot: choose the club that stays in play
· A par to win the U.S. Open, a tight final hole, and why the longest club isn’t required. - McIlroy’s 2011 Masters: how to bounce back from a bad round
· A four-shot Sunday lead, a round of 80, and a U.S. Open win two months later. - Van de Velde 1999: why beginners should take the safe shot
· Needing only a 6 to win The Open, and what that means for the shot you're allowed to choose. - Spieth’s 2016 Masters 12th: how to reset after a bad hole
· A five-shot lead, a famous little par 3, and why the next shot doesn't know about the last one. - De Vicenzo’s 1968 Masters scorecard: check your card
· A birthday 65 at Augusta, a 4 that should have been a 3, and a ten-second habit for your card.