A 75-second golf shot at Augusta National made Bailey Shoemaker an internet sensation. While many cried foul over slow play, the real story behind the delay reveals a challenging medical recovery that.

The clip got over two million views. Not long after, it turned into another round of complaints about slow play. However, a lot of the reaction came from people who didn’t know what was actually going on.

Speaking to Golf.com at Augusta, Bailey Shoemaker talked about it directly. "I've been battling injury for over a year now," she said. "When you have nerve surgery, you aren't in control. It doesn't matter what my brain says or does; do you think I want to do it intentionally? Of course not."

Last October, the 21-year-old USC junior had surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome in her right arm. She had been dealing with the problem for nearly seven months while still playing. At one point, the pain became so bad that her fingers would even slip off the club during her backswing.

Her USC coach, Justin Silverstein, has said she’s one of the quickest players he’s ever coached.

So when the video appeared, the reaction was immediate. Many people said it was unfair to her playing partners and didn’t match the standards of the tournament. Bailey Shoemaker even called her coach to ask if the video could be taken down.

Bailey Shoemaker's Injury Almost Cost Her

The noise around the pace of play drowned out something far more significant. "A year ago, I didn't know if I'd be playing golf anymore," Bailey Shoemaker said. "I thought I was going to, like, lose my hand, basically."

The ANWA is one of amateur golf's premier events, drawing the world's top college and amateur players to Augusta National each spring. Shoemaker earned her spot in that field. Missing the cut by three strokes is a footnote compared to where she was a year ago.

Her two playing partners, meanwhile, finished a combined 10 under par. Their group was never put on the clock; they were waiting on the group ahead of them. The facts quietly dismantled the outrage.

Shoemaker isn't losing sleep over the criticism. "If anything, it was fuel," she said. "I'm happy where I am, and I'm making leaps and bounds in my health, and that's all I really care about."

What do you think about the criticism Bailey Shoemaker faced at Augusta? Let us know in the comments!

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi