When you work a 9-to-5 and the LPGA comes calling, sometimes you just have to use your vacation days. That's exactly what Alana Uriell did, and it paid off in the most unexpected way.

Uriell, now working at Visa after her playing days, arrived at the Riviera Maya Open in Mayakoba, Mexico, with modest expectations. She had packed her sunscreen and a good book, fully anticipating a weekend by the pool with a margarita in hand. Instead, she found herself with a Saturday and Sunday tee time—a dream scenario for any golfer who has traded their clubs for a desk job.

"I have a golf team with me that I play golf with regularly," Uriell said with a laugh. "I think they're at home right now cheering me on and saying, 'Man, I played golf with her last week. We were having a White Claw together on the golf course.'"

It's a rare sight on the LPGA tour: a player taking PTO to compete. But for Uriell, it was a chance to rediscover the competitive fire while cashing a paycheck in the process. Whether she was sipping that margarita or not, she proved that sometimes the best shots come when you're least expecting them.