FORMER Ryder Cup star Paul Broadhurst astonishingly MISSED THE BALL at the Seniors Open when attempting a simple tap-in.

The 58-year-old finished the first round at Carnoustie tied for second place with a three under par 69.

But he could have ended the day tied for the lead alongside Canadian Stephen Ames had he not make a rookie error.

Needing to tap in from over the hole to secure a par, Broadhurst shocked golf fans by missing the ball altogether, before putting in at the second attempt.

The commentator said: “Well, to me that’s an attempt at a stroke.”

And indeed it was deemed to be so as Broadhurst suffered the most unlikely of bogies after owning up to the mistake.

Speaking to Sky Sports following the incident, Broadhurst, who competed in the 1991 Ryder Cup, said: “I made a bit of a mess on the seventh.

“I had to declare a penalty on myself. I had a fresh air putt.

“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if my balance was not quite right, I should have pulled out of it.

“But my putter went over the ball and went past it so I checked with the referee.

“I had made a legitimate attempt to play the ball so I had to call that.”

Reacting to the bizarre moment, one fan said: “He’s just like me.”

Another added: “It’s because he looks at the hole when he putts….


.”

A third replied: “Not clever.”

While a stunned fourth responded: “Did he count that?”

Broadhurst’s 1991 Ryder Cup appearance ended in disappointment as USA won by one point in South Carolina.

The Walsall-born golfer’s best major results came 17 years apart at The Open where he finished 12th in 1990 and 2007.