There are hole-in-ones, are there are aces, and while they’re both words for the same score — a 1! — Emiliano Grillo demonstrated what it looks like to experience the latter on Friday at TPC Scottsdale.
The 32-year-old Argentinian pro was one under par — and on the wrong side of the 36-hole WM Phoenix Open cut — when he arrived at the famed par-3 16th hole.
Grillo’s tee shot was a frozen rope heading toward the hole — and it never veered off course, landing directly in the cup — a slam dunk that rattled the flagstick on the way in — electrifying the stadium crowd and sending beverages flying.
As soon as he realized what he has done, Grillo went into celebration mode, flinging his club in the air, jumping up on the tee box and landing a mid-air chest bump with his Round 2 playing partner, Rafael Campos.
Meanwhile, the beverage shower began around the green, with beer and cups raining down from the grandstands.
The group seemed absolutely delighted by the crowd’s appreciative roars, and Grillo was afforded ample time to soak in the achievement, as the volunteers worked to clear the hole of cups and debris before the players were given the go-ahead to approach the green.
Grillo’s slam dunk was the 12th hole-in-one to occur on No. 16. The ace brought Grillo back on the right side of the cut line with his second nine — the front side — left to play in Round 2.
