USC Golfer Criticized for Slow Play in Injury Recovery

Bailey Shoemaker, a 21-year-old junior golfer at the University of Southern California, drew widespread online criticism during the first round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Wednesday when a video captured her taking 75 seconds to complete a tee shot on the par-3 eighth hole at Champions Retreat.

The footage, broadcast by Golf Channel, showed Shoemaker addressing the ball and attempting multiple backswings before resetting her stance several times and finally striking it to 25 feet from the pin. Her group was not placed on the clock, so no penalty was assessed under the tournament's pace-of-play rules, which limit shots to 40 seconds once a player is ready. Shoemaker's playing partners, Gyubeen Kim and Amelie Zalsman, completed strong rounds of 3-under and 5-under par, respectively, and advanced to the final day at Augusta National, indicating the delay did not significantly disrupt their rhythm.

Shoemaker attributed the hesitation to ongoing recovery from a severe nerve injury in her right arm. Diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome, a condition compressing the ulnar nerve near the elbow, she underwent surgery in October 2025 after months of playing through intense...