Bockerstette, a junior college golfer who has Down syndrome, was pulled out of the crowd by defending champion Gary Woodland and invited to play the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, Golf Digest reported. After sending her tee shot into the sand trap, she sent her second shot onto the green and drained an 8-foot putt for par on one of the PGA Tour's more challenging holes.
"It feels amazing," Bockerstette told the Arizona Republic.
“It’s phenomenal,” Woodland said during his news conference Wednesday. “I told her she was an inspiration to all of us and we can all learn from her. She was dealt with some serious issues and she’s overcome them and she is phenomenal. She was so sweet, she was so excited and happy and that’s something that we can all learn from.
“When things aren’t going our way we can definitely look back at her. And I told her she was a hero and to keep doing what she’s doing because we’re all going to be following her.”
Bockerstette has excelled at golf since she attended high school in Phoenix. She qualified for the state tournament as a junior and in May signed a letter of intent to play at Paradise Valley Community College, Golf Digest reported.
The video produced by the PGA Tour has gone viral:
"Amy ... you're our hero."
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 30, 2019
How a superstar named Amy teamed up with @GaryWoodland to win the hearts of the 16th hole crowd @WMPhoenixOpen.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/iRhZbvdjuP
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