HORROR SHANK costs PGA Tour rookie Taylor Montgomery big at The American Express

PGA Tour rookie Taylor Montgomery cost himself a golden chance of a maiden victory at The American Express when hitting an untimely shank on the par-3 17th at PGA West's Stadium Course. 

Montgomery, 27, has been knocking on the door for a first win since stepping up to the main circuit. 

The red-hot American has form figures that read 3, 9, 15, 13, 10, 57, 15, 12 and 5 in his first nine starts of the PGA Tour season. 

Montgomery started the season well outside the top 100 and has since vaulted to 52nd following some fearless displays. 

But perhaps his best chance of a maiden win so far came on Sunday night as he stepped aboard the difficult par-3 17th just one shot behind eventual winner Jon Rahm.

Okay, Rahm and his playing partner Davis Thompson still had the par-5 16th to play in the group behind, but Montgomery was bang in the mix. 

He needed to make birdie to pile the pressure on Rahm on a hole that was giving players nightmares all week. 

Unfortunately the story was no different for Montgomery as he proceeded to shank his ball into the ripples to the shock of the commentary box and golf fans watching on. 

WATCH MONTGOMERY'S SHANK HERE

The island green 17th has another victim.

Taylor Montgomery trailed by 1 entering and 3 leaving the 71st hole. pic.twitter.com/HfGVYdLx2x

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2023

The shank led to a double-bogey five.

To his credit, he bounced back with a birdie down the par-4 18th to finish the week on 24-under par (solo fifth) and three shots behind Rahm, who won his fourth tournament in his last six starts around the world. 

Montgomery earned a tidy sum for the week, too. 

But it could have been so much more had that unmentionable not happened on 17. 

Montgomery is some player, and that maiden win is only around the corner you have to feel. 

Related: Jon Rahm cracks underrated joke as he wins The American Express