Dog picks up Paul Casey’s golf ball at the Dunhill Links Championship

Paul Casey’s golf game has been in the doghouse this year. With only five made cuts in 17 events, 2012 has been a forgettable one for the Englishman. And on Friday at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, his season took another bizarre turn when a dog ran onto the 12th green at Kingsbarns Golf Links in St. Andrews and picked up Casey’s ball as he was eyeing an eagle putt.

Casey reportedly asked the dog to take the ball and drop it closer to the hole, but instead of following orders, he ran off before a spectator caught the ball thief on the 13th and retrieved Casey’s original ball.

Casey went on to birdie the hole and, because he’s a nice guy, even gave the ball back to the dog as he was walking off the green.

“It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever had happen on a golf course,” said Casey after firing a 3-under 69. “I noticed the dog on the 12th tee and he sort of followed us down the fairway before taking a real liking to my golf ball.”

You have to feel for Casey; even dogs are trying to sabotage his game. While he’s likely the first to have his ball snatched by a dog, the crazy situation still ranks a distant second to a seagull flying off with Steve Lowery’s ball at the 1998 Players Championship before promptly dropping it in the water. Sometimes you have to battle more than just the elements and the course to win a tournament.

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