I couldn't help but stare at the ball in disbelief.

Had it jumped mid-swing?

Did I close my eyes?

Did my club suddenly grow a half-inch?

Those are the only logical explanations I have for what happened today on the golf course.

I whiffed. Missed. Wasn't a practice swing, either.

I can honestly say it IS the first time in my life I MEANT to hit the ball and didn't. I didn't play golf until college, so I never flailed at the ball in vain as a kid. Until now.

I have my excuses (always do). Unfortunately, drinking wasn't one of them.

It was 90 degrees out. I was a single on a course review assignment on a resort course jam-packed with golfers on a slow summer death march. My focus was on my notes and my story, not my swing and my score. And I hate slow play, worse than I hate shooting 100.

After a perfect drive on a par 5, I pulled my 7-wood back and swung mightly. Only the fairway turf moved. I padded it back into place. Unfortunately, I was so rattled I duffed the next shot, too.

My day finished with five double bogeys in 7 holes. Turns out one bad swing can ruin an entire round.

Now that I've admitted the ultimate sin in golf, I feel like I can step to the first tee again with a clean conscience. Maybe you should confess you've done it to. Everybody has. Right?

Come on. Make me feel better. Unless you're below a 10-handicap, I'm sure it's more common than any golfer would dare to admit.

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