Jordan Spieth had to compete with an odd four-legged playing companion at the RBC Heritage on Friday, which was on brand at the John Deere Classic.

During the second round of the South Carolina PGA Tour event, the former world number one was lining up his swing when a deer leaped from the trees and rushed down the fairway at Harbor Town Golf Links.

Any dreams of the special guest getting par were crushed when the deer wound up in a bunker, with film from the PGA Tour showing the animal trotting back along the fairway before returning to the woods from which it had emerged.

Michael Greller and Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, caddies to Spieth and Justin Thomas, respectively, were tasked with the most unusual of bunker raking jobs, as they sought to smooth up the visitor’s hoof prints in the sand.

Earlier in the session, Spieth was ready to complete his swing when the wind flew stray leaf inches past the ball, knocking him off balance. Before Spieth teed off, Greller was on hand with a towel.

An alligator, photographed on the course lazing in the sun before heading to the neighboring lake to help offer golfers more motivation to keep their shots out of the water, was also promoting South Carolina nature.

The RBC Heritage is in its 54th year of competition, with an $8 million prize pool.