It wasn’t hot outside, but that didn’t stop golfer Louis de Jager from almost taking off all his clothes.
The South African player, 37, took off his shirt and unbuttoned his trousers to play through the 13th hole after his ball landed on the muddy shore of a lake at the DP World Tour’s Soudal Open in Schilde, Belgium on Friday (May 24).
De Jager’s strategy – seemingly aimed more at saving his clothes than preserving his dignity – was not lost on commentators, who hilariously shared their own opinions.
“The shirt is off, the belt is unfastened. Is this really necessary?” one broadcaster asked his partner. Another analyst then responded: “He obviously doesn’t want mud on his shirt, so yeah.”
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In footage from the tournament, de Jager then cleared the ball over the crossbar, to cheers from the gallery. As the mud flew, nothing appeared to hit the golfer, who then looked quizzically at his intact golf glove.
The ball, meanwhile, ended up on the field at a good distance. But that hasn’t stopped commentators from lending their expertise. “I mean, I personally think if you’re going to go that far, you might as well take off your pants, shoes, socks and everything,” said one.
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De Jager’s shirtless exploits didn’t detract from his round at all, although he landed in the drink on the next hole. The athlete saved par and then went on to birdie the next three.
The golfer finished the round at -2 (69) — and is -6 for the tournament — moving him into a tie for 23rd.
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