Tiger Woods walks on water (seriously)

When they say Tiger Woods has all the shots, they’re not kidding.

YouTube viewers are getting a first look at the long-rumored “Jesus Shot,” which Woods has been working on secretly at his Orlando, Fla., compound. First sighted in the EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 video game, Woods plays the shot when his ball lands on a lily pad in a water hazard. He simply grabs a wedge, takes off his shoes, walks onto the surface of the water and hits the ball into the hole. Take a look below:

It’s a joke, of course, and a clever way to promote the new EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 video game. The idea came from a couple of fans who posted the YouTube “glitch” in the ’08 game that allowed Woods to hit shots while walking on water. The new video is a response from EA Sports, and it's a good example of viral marketing and how cutting-edge companies are using the Web and even their customers to promote new products.

The Jesus Shot does have a little bit of golf history behind it. Legendary Augusta National founder Clifford Roberts is said to have had a walkway built just under the surface of the pond on the par-3 16th. Here’s how Jack Nicklaus tells it: “I love the story about the spoof [Roberts] put on at one of the jamborees. They always said he could walk on water, and he rigged it so he could walk across the water at No. 16.”

UPDATE: As our observant golf.com users have noticed below, Tiger doesn’t just break the rules of nature during this shot, he also breaks the Rules of Golf. According to Rule 13-4, the player must not "touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club." By dipping his club in the water, Tiger clearly violates this rule. The penalty is two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Even with the two-stroke penalty, Tiger probably made par here. Tough par, though.

Comments

[phil]

look i understand the idea came from a glitch in the video game . but they should have shot the commercial entirely around that not like he is equal to jesus .i hope he can pray to jesus for forgiveness and hope he helps him heal faster.

[Mason]

DJ writes> "Obama is gonna tax him to death. Watch out TOUR players,"

Tiger and Tour players can afford a tax increase. Why should I care if Jim Furyk or Sergio Garcia has to pay $50,000 more in taxes next year?

[Ronald Montesano]

I didn't notice any stakes, so it's not clear that it's defined as a hazard. It could be one of those Pete Dye waste bunkers that are not hazards and where a club can be grounded. Take that, rules wonks!

[happy]

Enjoyed the video.. man people can't enjoy anyhing without bashing it these days. The video was meant to be a bit of light in people's bleak negative worlds. Lighten Up!!!

[Steve]

Good catch on the rule breaking.

As for the EGO, can you name anyone better? He has reason to boast. Even if he retired now, you'd have to say he's greater than Jack.

Also, DJ, Tiger lives in FL to AVOID high taxes. But then again, econ isn't the strong suit of the GOP so you can be forgiven for not knowing that.

[You]

Your point? Enjoy the video. Politics is the language of conjecture.

[DJ]

Obama is gonna tax him to death. Watch out TOUR players, you're gonna get it HARD in the rear end.

[Why]

Wow. This is incredibly stupid. I've always liked the fact that Tiger generally doesn't give people a good reason to bash him -- they usually do out of jealousy. But holy egomaniac! This is stupid.

[khamsouk]

you guys are such nerds! trying enjoying the cool video!

[Patola]

Doesn't he get penalized for 'dipping' his club in the water?

[hanushka]

If he can walk on water WHY take the shoes off?

[Swoop]

Hope he didn't forget to add 2 pops for touching the water with his club or he risks getting DQ'd