Largemouth bass explodes from water to eat Charl Schwartzel's golf ball at LIV Golf New York

They say a bass will eat just about anything that fits in its mouth. Turns out, that includes golf balls.

LIV golfer Charl Schwartzel learned that the hard way during LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster over the weekend, when his tee shot on the 134-yard, par-3 seventh hole landed on the green before spinning backward and rolling toward the water.

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And somebody was waiting for it.

The instant Schwartzel’s ball hit the pond, a fish — seemingly a largemouth bass — exploded from the water and gobbled it up like someone had just tossed a topwater lure directly onto its head.

Lightning fast. No hesitation. What an athlete.

Largemouth bass are ambush predators whose normal menu includes fish, crayfish and frogs. They’ll also take live baits including lizards, insects and even small mice when given the opportunity. A Titleist isn’t exactly nutritious, but nobody told this guy.

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion and winner of the first-ever LIV Golf event in 2022, was competing at Bedminster as LIV returned to the New York area Aug. 6-9.

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Unfortunately, “a bass ate my ball” does not earn a free mulligan.

Golf’s rules generally say there is no penalty when an outside influence — including an animal — moves a ball at rest, and the ball is ordinarily replaced. But Schwartzel’s ball had already entered the penalty area, so he ultimately took relief and a one-stroke penalty before making bogey.

Golf courses, of course, produce plenty of wildlife cameos. Alligators, snakes, birds and even bears and moose have all interrupted rounds before.

But a largemouth waiting beside the green to hammer a golf ball the instant it hits the water?

That’s a special one.

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