PGA Tour player suffers moment at the American Express that was ‘painful to watch’ as he shoots 13 on one hole

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The American Express in La Quinta is typically one of the lowest-scoring events on the PGA Tour.

Nick Dunlap won with a score of 29 under in 2024, Jon Rahm clinched victory at 27 under in 2023, and Hudson Swafford won at 23 under the year prior. Clearly, the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club and Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course provide ample opportunities for birdies and eagles.

And with a weakened Amex field in 2025, there could be a chance for a lesser-known player to taste victory in what is the first PGA Tour event on the US mainland.

Rookie William Mouw is one golfer who won’t be winning this weekend, however.

Golf fans stunned as William Mouw makes 13 at The American Express

Rookie Mouw started his second round at The Stadium Course four under for the tournament and looking to place himself nicely ahead of the weekend action.

Two under through 15, the American looked on track to card a solid 36-hole total. However, after playing his third shot to the testing par-five 16th, things quickly unravelled.

The 24-year-old hit his approach into the biggest bunker on the PGA Tour before hitting his fourth shot over the back of the green. The worst was to come. Mouw then pitched his ball back into the greenside bunker, and a series of shots back-and-forth across the green would follow.

Mouw would eventually get down in 13. Golf fans watching at home did have some sympathy.

“Hard to watch. Get that man a beer,” this fan said. Another wrote: “I feel bad.”

This fan added: “This is surreal”.

“That was painful to watch,” another wrote. “Feel for him,“ said one.

Finally, this viewer said, “This is actually tough to watch…. I genuinely feel for the bloke. It hurts to watch.”

Mouw’s 13 is still better than the highest score ever recorded on a single hole on the PGA Tour, which was set by Tommy Armour at the 1927 Shawnee Open.

• READ MORE: Meet the player who has just won on the PGA Tour but has missed nine consecutive major championship cuts

The Amex round two leaderboard

Things didn’t get much better for Mouw on the 17th. Clearly unsettled by what happened on the previous hole, the American found the hazard twice before eventually carding a triple-bogey seven.

At the other end of the leaderboard, it’s Charley Hoffman who leads the way on 16 under after shooting nine under at the Nicklaus Tournament Course.

Former world number one Jason Day is also placed nicely at 14 under after carding a 64 (six under) at the same venue. Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler are one shot back at 13 under, and Patrick Cantlay sits at 12 under. Fowler produced the round of the day after shooting ten under at the Tournament Course.