Golfer's Errant Shot Hits Bird, Recalls Infamous Randy Johnson Incident

Ryan Gerard's unfortunate tee shot at the Cognizant Classic goes viral, drawing comparisons to baseball's Randy Johnson hitting a bird.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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During the first round of the Cognizant Classic PGA Tour event in Palm Beach, Florida, golfer Ryan Gerard hit a bird with his tee shot, in a moment reminiscent of the infamous Randy Johnson bird-strike incident in baseball. The video of Gerard's shot has gone viral, with golf fans drawing parallels to the 2001 Spring Training game where Johnson's fastball infamously struck and killed a passing bird.

Why it matters

Incidents like these, while unfortunate for the bird, tend to capture the public's imagination and go viral online. For a rising young golfer like Ryan Gerard, who has been making a name for himself on the PGA Tour, this moment could help raise his profile and attract more attention to his promising career.

The details

In the video, Gerard is seen teeing off when his iron shot appears to strike a bird that was flying by at the exact wrong moment. Golf analyst Smylie Kaufman confirmed that the bird survived the impact. Despite Gerard's hot start to the 2026 season, including runner-up finishes at the Sony Open and American Express, the bizarre circumstances of his shot at the Cognizant Classic have become the talk of golf fans on social media.

  • The incident occurred during the first round of the Cognizant Classic PGA Tour event on February 26, 2026.

The players

Ryan Gerard

A 26-year-old PGA Tour golfer who is considered a rising star in the sport, having finished as runner-up in two events already this season.

Randy Johnson

A former Major League Baseball pitcher who infamously struck and killed a bird with a pitch during a Spring Training game in 2001, an incident that has become one of the most memorable moments in sports history.

Smylie Kaufman

A golf analyst who confirmed that the bird struck by Ryan Gerard's shot was still alive after the impact.

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The takeaway

While unfortunate for the bird, Ryan Gerard's errant shot that struck a flying bird during the Cognizant Classic has captured the attention of golf fans, drawing comparisons to the infamous Randy Johnson incident and highlighting the unpredictable nature of sports. For Gerard, this viral moment could help raise his profile as a rising young star on the PGA Tour.