William Mouw had a joke to share on Saturday, a day after making headlines for an unforgettable performance on the PGA Tour. He said to the PGA Tour’s social media team, “Let’s start off with I didn’t have a 13 today.”
It was a clever way to address the aftermath of a golf moment that quickly sparked online commentary. The day before, during the second round of the American Express tournament, Mouw had carded a 13 on the par-5 16th hole at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. He entered the hole six-under par but left it two-over.
The trouble began early. After two swings, Mouw was 25 yards from the green but faced an 18-foot-high bunker wall in front of him. His third shot sailed over the green. He then pitched the ball back into the bunker, only to watch it bounce off the bunker wall and roll back down. After several more attempts, Mouw eventually reached the fairway, but his troubles continued. It took him 13 strokes in total to finish the hole.
Though many players have struggled on this punishing hole, Mouw’s story gained traction because fans were eager to understand what went wrong. The curiosity around his misfortune led to a flood of online jokes and comments.
On Friday, Mouw took the time to reflect in silence, but by Saturday, he was ready to share his perspective. During an interview with the PGA Tour’s social media team, Mouw explained that he had learned to laugh at the situation. “It’s something that when it’s happening, you just have to laugh at it, accept it, and move on,” Mouw said. “Stuff happens, man. Golf’s a crazy game.”
Despite the rough hole, Mouw rebounded with a strong performance on Saturday, shooting a 67 with nine birdies. He expressed pride in his ability to move forward. “Looking at the big picture and bouncing back in a positive way is meaningful to me,” he added. “I’m proud of myself.”
Mouw was also aware of the online reaction, including a kind comment on Instagram. As he looked at the message, it was clear that while the 13 was a tough moment, he had the resilience to handle it with humor and grace.
