Illusion

I wonder if anyone would have thought it an illusion if the shaft was bent the other way. In any case it's not an illusion. No wide angle lens distortion and the blur from motion would not make the shaft either straight or bent the other way during the duration of the exposure. Faster exposure film would make no difference except allowing a faster shutter speed that would reduce the small amount of blur that's there.

Gary Player said hed seen the effect before and Nicklaus said it was because the club was releasing at that point. Clearly no mystery to either of them but as Nicklaus pointed out a surprise the first time he saw it and to many today.

It is the way it is. I'm sure there will be more 'creative' explanations to come.

Peter