ISAIAH SALINDA may not be making the cut at the Cognizant Classic but he certainly made a memorable impression on the course with a daring move that left fans talking.
The 28-year-old PGA Tour golfer was battling to finish his second round strong, despite a difficult start at Palm Springs.
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Isaiah Salinda showed that you can golf without a shirt and shoes
The bravery got fans talking on social media
As his round progressed, it became clear that the stakes were high, especially as he worked to recover after an errant tee shot on the 17th hole.
After sending his shot straight into the water just right of the green, Salinda faced a tricky decision.
Instead of taking the usual penalty stroke for the shot, he decided to get creative and play the ball as it lay, in the water.
The unconventional approach required Salinda to strip down to the essentials. Taking off his shoes, socks and even his shirt, he waded into the water to try and salvage his shot while staying as dry as possible.
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Fans watching from the sidelines couldn’t help but take notice.
Some joked that Salinda had simply “wanted to flex on everyone,” as the golfer’s bold move quickly became the talk of the day.
Despite the brave effort, Salinda’s water-bound shot didn’t quite go as planned.
He managed to set himself up with a chance for a par-3, but missed his first putt, ultimately walking away with a bogey on the hole.
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While the dramatic moment certainly entertained the crowd, Salinda’s second round didn’t end as he had hoped.
He finished the day 5-over par, and with a cumulative score of +11 overall, he found himself 121st out of 122 golfers.
Salinda has made a solid start to his career as a golferCredit: Getty
It wasn’t all bad news for Salinda, though. His round began with promise, as he started strong with a birdie on the opening hole.
But things quickly fell apart, especially after a disastrous 8 on the par-4 11th hole that sent his round into a tailspin.
Despite the setbacks, Salinda remained upbeat about his performance, determined to continue learning and improving.
The golfer, who joined the PGA Tour in 2025, has had a mixed career so far, but his perseverance is clear.
Salinda has made 23 out of 41 cuts on the tour, a respectable record for a player still finding his feet at the highest level.
He’s earned just under $2 million in his career.
The moment on the 17th hole, however, will likely be the most talked-about part of his performance at the Cognizant Classic.
Many fans praised his fearless attitude, even though his scorecard didn’t reflect his efforts on the course.
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