Graeme McDowell bounced a U.S. Open sand shot off the flag and promptly back into the bunker

It’s a hell of a trick shot. But also a bad tournament golf shot.

Graeme McDowell wasn’t having a great day through the first 10 holes at the 2018 U.S. Open. On the 11th, the golf gods all but told him to pack up his bags and take an early trip home.

McDowell’s hopes of a sand save were rejected with all the power of a Dikembe Mutombo block when his wedge out of the bunker crashed against the flag to flush that the ball rolled right back where it started. The Northern Irish pro couldn’t do anything in response but chuckle through gritted teeth.

McDowell wound up settling for a double-bogey five on the par-3 second hole — he’d started his day on the back nine. That pushed his score to +8 through 11 holes and into a tie for 123rd place. That’s going to make his unlikely journey to his second U.S. Open title even more difficult — he was a +15000 underdog to win the tournament before the start of Thursday’s first round.