The Masters tweeted out a video of Rahm’s shot, which skipped across a pond directly into Hole 16 at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia. After the ball rolls into the hole, the camera pans over to Rahm, who sticks his hands up in celebration and high-fives his caddy before polishing off the club and walking to the next hole.
According to The Masters website, Augusta’s Hole 16 is called “Redbud.” It’s a par 3 and a 170 yard shot, making it the second shortest distance from tee-off to the whole on the course. Hole no. 12 (also a par 3) is the shortest with only 155 yards.
“This hole is played entirely over water to a green secured by three bunkers. With the putting surface significantly pitched from right to left, an exacting tee shot is required to set up a reasonable birdie chance,” the description on The Masters site says.
This wasn’t Rahm’s only sweet shot this week. He posted another hole-in-one at Hole 4 (a 240 yard, par 3) on Monday on his Instagram. In the video of him retrieving his ball, Rahm ironically said, “It won’t happen again.” If only he could know that he would hit another hole-in-one the following day.
Rahm is certainly hoping to keep that momentum going as the Masters Tournament kicks off on Thursday. “Hole-in-one’s are always special, even more so at Augusta National. Here’s to hoping it happens again later this week,” he wrote in the caption on Instagram.
While making two hole-in-ones is impressive, people are simply astounded by the implausible shot he made on Tuesday. Some sports reporters on Twitter called it the “greatest golf shot in history.” Definitely not a bad birthday gift, if you ask me.
Other people praised him for not immediately starting drinking when the shot landed. Given that it was his second hole-in-one this week and his birthday, a toast certainly wouldn’t have been out of order.
Some people were more technical in their praise. Wall Street Journal editor Dave Marino-Nachison pointed out that by aiming away from the other balls on the green was key to the strategy in sinking the hole in one.
Ahead of the tournament, Rahm spoke about how walking down Magnolia Lane on the course gives him “butterflies” and that he’s continually learning on the course. “It’s such a special, iconic place for golfers,” he said in a video.
