The 1999 PLAYERS Championship will be forever etched in the hearts of every golf fan. But what made it so special? Well, it was a shot made by golfing legend Fred Couples. During the opening round of the Signature Tournament, he hit his tee on the island green on the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass.
However, his ball pretty much bounced back and got entirely rinsed. This forced him to tee off once again, and he ended up dunking one. It was a miraculous hole-in-three. Summed up with an ace plus two shots. They are indeed one of the rarest achievements in the history of the sport, and it is pretty much impossible to have a good shot without having a bad one that preceded it.
However, that too is often seen as a symbol of recovery. “I don’t know how hard I was trying on my third shot,” Couples, a two-time Players Champion, admitted years later (he shot a 77 in that opening round, by the way). “If I don’t make that shot, I think I shoot 80, 81 and probably miss the cut. Three days later, I was in fourth place.”
Such moments in golf happen infrequently, but when they do, they leave a lasting impression. A recent example occurred just two weeks ago during the second round of the Honda Classic. On the par-3 15th hole at PGA National, Kyle Stanley found himself in a tricky situation. His tee shot landed in a wet area, forcing him to walk to the drop zone for his next attempt.
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After assessing the situation, Stanley took his second swing, aiming to get back on track. Surprisingly, his shot carried about 10 feet past the hole. However, in a twist of fate, the ball spun back toward the pin and rolled in for an unexpected hole-in-one. This incredible moment not only showcased Stanley’s skill but also reminded fans of the unpredictable nature of the game.
Moments like these are what make golf so captivating, adding excitement and drama to each tournament.
