During the annual Par 3 Contest held on the eve of the US Masters, four golfers achieved the remarkable feat of hitting a hole-in-one.
English golfer Aaron Rai emerged victorious in the contest, finishing with an impressive score of six-under par.
The 2023 US Masters is set to commence on Thursday, April 9, and will conclude with the final round on Monday, April 13, AEST.
This year’s Par 3 Contest at Augusta National not only showcased four aces but also featured a standout moment from Tommy Fleetwood’s eight-year-old son, Frankie.
Ranked 39th in the world, Aaron Rai secured his win by birdieing the last four holes, although historically, winners of the Par 3 Contest have yet to claim the Masters title in the same week since the event’s inception in 1960.
Among the highlights of Wednesday’s contest were four hole-in-ones, including one from Tommy Fleetwood. However, it was young Frankie who captured the audience’s attention with his near-miss shot that almost cleared the water hazard.
Frankie had gone viral the previous year after expressing his struggles with Ike’s Pond, which is located in front of the ninth green. As a result, spectators were eager to see how he would perform this year, especially after his father’s ace on the fourth hole.
Before attempting his shot on the 120-yard hole, Frankie expressed some uncertainty, saying, “I’m not so confident, but honestly, on the range this afternoon, I felt good, so I feel like I got a chance.”
When it was time for his tee shot, Frankie made good contact, but the ball veered off course and landed in the water. Disheartened, he was encouraged by the supportive crowd to take another shot. On his second attempt, he nearly made it, missing the green by just a couple of feet.
“Nearly got it. A few inches, maybe,” Frankie remarked after his near miss.
In addition to Fleetwood’s efforts, Justin Thomas recorded an ace on the second hole, while Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley achieved hole-in-ones on the seventh and eighth holes, respectively. Notably, Bradley made history by becoming the first player to score a hole-in-one in the Par 3 Contest in consecutive years.
