Jack Nicklaus fires a Masters ace

Jack Nicklaus makes a hole-in-one at The Masters

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Jack Nicklaus makes a hole-in-one at The Masters

 

Edited by Anand Datla

 

April 09, 2015: Jack Nicklaus has realised a long cherished dream at a venue that has been the site of many of the legendary golfer’s heroics. The 75 year old made his first ever ace at the Augusta National Golf Club, when he shot a hole-in-one from the fourth tee. It was a momentous occasion that suddenly gave the par-3 contest a touch of history. Though Arnold Palmer could not join Nicklaus on the tee due to back problems, he was standing there in regal brilliance, dressed in his green jacket. Keeping Nicklaus company at the tee were Gary Player and Ben Crenshaw.

 

Standing on No. 4 tee, Jack Nicklaus, 75, the legendary six-time Masters Champion, had knocked an 8-iron just past the flagstick, watched as the ball kicked forward and spun back about 30 feet into the cup.

 

Nicklaus turned to celebrate his ace with Gary Player and Ben Crenshaw, a priceless moment for three players with a combined 11 Masters titles. As the roar continued, players across the course held up their putters and tipped their hands toward No. 4 as Nicklaus strode to the green.

 

“I’ve never had a hole-in-one at Augusta, the Par 3 course or the big course,” Nicklaus said. “I enjoyed it. We had an incredible amount of fun.”

 

Nicklaus was one of four players making five holes-in-one Wednesday (three at No. 4), tying the record set in 2002. Villegas had two aces, at Nos. 4 and 8, and became only the third player to have two in the same year. Trevor Immelman (No. 5) and Matias Dominguez (No. 4) had the other aces.

 

Nicklaus and Player were without longtime playing partner Arnold Palmer, who couldn’t play because of back issues. But Palmer, wearing his Green Jacket, showed up to see them off at No. 1, and after Crenshaw flared his shot short and right, a voice called out from behind the tee box.
“Nice shot Ben!” Palmer shouted.

 

A few holes later, Nicklaus etched another great shot into his Masters legacy.

 

Jack Nicklaus has had no shortage of legendary moments at Augusta National. He added another one Wednesday, making an ace at the fourth hole of the annual Masters Par 3 Contest.

 

Nicklaus will hit the annual opening tee shot at The Masters Thursday morning with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

 

Video: https://t.co/R6eX1kwQo1

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