"Criticise the tournament" - LIV Golf pro defends ANWA competitor

LIV Golf captain Ben An was among those to defend Bailey Shoemaker after she appeared to suffer a case of the yips during the first round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

A clip of Shoemaker went viral on Wednesday after the 21-year-old took more than one minute and 12 seconds to pull the trigger on the eighth hole at Champions Retreat. 

At the time, the commentator suggested it was all part of her pre-shot routine as she repeatedly started her swing, stopped, reset, and tried again. 

In total, Shoemaker had seven half swings and seven waggles before she hit the ball, ultimately making a par on the hole. 

Shoemaker signed for a one over 73 on Wednesday and posted the same score yesterday to miss the cut by three strokes. 

But her viral moment continues to stir a debate online.

Former PGA Tour golfer turned LIV Golf recruit, An, was among those to defend Shoemaker. 

The 34-year-old urged those getting agitated to turn turn their frustration on tournament officials.

"Hope she gets better soon," he wrote on X. 

"People should stop criticising her. Criticise the tournament not giving her a penalty stroke."

Shoemaker's group was never put on the clock nor did they find themselves behind the pace of play. 

Asterisk Talley will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the ANWA. 

The highly-rated Talley, 17, is on 11-under, one clear of Meja Örtengren and Maria José Marín

What did Bailey Shoemaker say about the situation?

Shoemaker spoke to GOLF's Claire Rogers after the second round to clear up the viral moment. 

She explained that he had surgery to repair some nerve damage in her arm and what transpired in round one wasn't intentional. 

"I've been battling injury for over a year now, and so I've got some things bugging me," she said. 

"But when you have nerve surgery, you aren't in control. It doesn't matter what my brain says or does. 

"You think I wanna do it intentionally? Of course not."

She added: "It was better today, and that was the worst one yesterday. Of course, it went viral. 

"Clearly, you don’t see the rest of the round. 

"You don’t see me at home working out five hours a day, going to rehab, waking up before practice to go to rehab. You don't see what's behind the scenes."

Shoemaker said the injury was so bad she was worried that she was going to lose her hand. 

She is just happy to be playing golf again. 

"To have control over my hand is nice for once, and just being out here playing is good," she said.  

"If anything, it was fuel. My dad has trained me to use that as fuel to ignite me a little bit, but I didn't pay too much mind to it.

"I'm happy with where I am, and I’m making leaps and bounds in my health, and that's all I really care about."