As play unfolded during the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, an unexpected delay occurred on the 14th hole. Several turtles had wandered into a bunker from a nearby pond. Ryan Gerard’s chip shot rolled past the green near one of these slow-moving visitors. Groundskeepers had to restore the sand trap while players waited. Golf.com reported the incident as “Turtle damage.” Quite peculiar!
Play was delayed on the 14th hole as the groundscrew fixed…
Turtle damage. pic.twitter.com/19AntGZEB2
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) May 15, 2025
The timing was particularly ironic given Patrick Cantlay‘s ongoing reputation for slow play. Social media quickly connected the dots between the turtles and Cantlay’s deliberate pace. “Live look at Patrick Cantlay, one of the slowest players on tour,” posted Tour Golf with an image of the turtle at the bunker.
This isn’t the first time Cantlay has faced criticism for his methodical approach. Brooks Koepka previously called Cantlay’s group “brutally slow” during the 2023 Masters. Matt Fitzpatrick compared the experience to “hitting your head against a brick wall.”
Cantlay currently sits at T62 on the leaderboard while dealing with both bunker troubles and persistent fan frustration. The nickname “The Human Rain Delay” seems more fitting than ever.
This is a developing story..
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