He’s had a few holes-in-one, but this even made Richard Green’s heart skip a beat.
Green fired his first career albatross today during a pro-am round before this week s Oates Victorian Open at 13th Beach Golf Links on the Bellarine Peninsula.
With the tee up from its customary club position when it plays as the first hole on the Beach Course, the Victorian veteran decided head attack the 283m par-four 15th with driver so he could see how it might work during the tournament. He hit his driver nicely, but the left-hander slightly blocked it and thought nothing more as it ran towards the pin-high bunker left of the green.
Then, after a few roars from a film crew behind the green, Green began to get a little more excited without ever realising the ball had run up the bunker face, squirted right and darted across the putting surface and into the cup.
I haven t had anything like that happen before, I have had holes-in-one during tournaments, but they have been shots that have landed by the hole and found their way in, Green said.
They were fantastic moments — but an albatross!!
I have never even come close (before). They are something that may never happen to someone in their career as a professional, so to have one in even in a pro-am was very special.
Green said the hole would be a great risk-reward hole this week, particularly in the closing stretch at the weekend.
I thought it was a good opportunity to get up near the green and contend for birdies during the week, he said.
I thought I would hit a driver and see what happens, I just pushed it a little bit, it was a good shot, but I knew it was going in the bunker so I was completely oblivious to the fact that it had made its way to the hole somehow.