During a warm-up session before TGL’s first tripleheader match Monday between Atlanta Drive Golf Club and Los Angeles Golf Club, Tommy Fleetwood pulled off one of the rarest feats in golf: a hole in one on a par-4.
While some ace’s are the result of skill and others of luck, Fleetwood’s was a bit of both.
His drive, which was tracking at the pin on the 312-yard “Bluebonnet”, landed just short of the green where it struck a rock outcropping. That’s when Lady Luck swooped in and gave Fleetwood’s ball a remarkable bounce, sending it trundling through the fringe and into the hole.
After a moment of disbelief, Fleetwood’s LAGC teammates celebrated his “unofficial” albatross, which undoubtedly boosted team morale heading into their match.
Just a few hours later, Fleetwood and his LAGC teammates were tied with the Atlanta Drive GC when he stepped up on the same hole and nearly pulled off the improbable again.
Fleetwood hit an almost identical drive off the tee and, as before, his ball caught another great bounce off the same rock. While his ball didn’t find its way to the hole, Fleetwood’s strategic play allowed his team to throw the hammer, which their opponents quickly declined. LAGC won the hole and the triples portion of the match.
But Atlanta Drive GC didn’t let the lost hole shake them.
The squad went on to win the singles showdowns, which sent the match into overtime. Thanks to a couple of clutch shots from Patrick Cantlay and Billy Horschel in the OT closest-to the-pin contest, Atlanta pulled off a gritty victory.
At least one question still remains, though: If you make a hole in one during an official simulator match or round, should it count as a real hole in one?
Let the debate rage.
