EUGENE, Ore. – In a few years, we may come to remember Beau Hossler chasing after a 4-iron off a downhill, sidehill lie as the moment that changed college golf forever.
The 24 hours that followed Hossler’s shoulder injury were among the most surreal in the history of the NCAA Championship: There was a somber news conference with the finalists; a breathless debate about the star’s status; a concession on the first hole; and, finally, a riveting final match that culminated with Oregon capturing its first national title in extra holes against short-handed Texas.
Fans unfamiliar with NCAA rules struggled to comprehend why a coach could not simply swap out an injured player on the biggest day of the year.