WATCH: Sepp Straka Makes Hole-In-One On 12th At Augusta National
The Austrian aced one of the world's most famous par 3s in practice for The Masters
Sepp Straka made a memory for a lifetime on Monday at Augusta National with a hole-in-one on the iconic par 3 12th hole at the Masters venue.
The 12th, known as Golden Bell, is one of the most famous golf holes in the world, with the beautiful par 3 playing over the iconic Rae's Creek in the heart of Amen Corner.
The Austrian's iron shot landed just over the front bunker, hopped up and then rolled into the cup to the delight of the watching crowds.
Watch Sepp Straka's hole-in-one:
Sepp Straka made a hole-in-one on the 12th at Augusta today in a practice round for #themasters pic.twitter.com/s7mIgBXZyDApril 3, 2023
"It was unbelievable," he said, "We had 155. The pin was tucked just over the bunker. Been coming up short all day, the ball wasn't going anywhere, so just hit a little 8 and just landed it perfect on the fringe just short and trickled in. It was amazing.
"I don't think I can top that hole-in-one. That'll be a memory I'll keep forever, and yeah, just really pumped about it."
Holes-in-one are very rare at the 12th, with only three 1's recorded on Golden Bell in Masters history. Claude Harmon made the first ever ace on the 12th at the 1947 Masters, the year before he slipped on the Green Jacket, with amateur William Hyndman making the second hole-in-one on the 12th some 12 years later in 1959.
The most recent hole-in-one at the 12th during a Masters came 35 years ago at the 1988 Masters, made by Curtis Strange. Straka's 1 will not go down in history, of course, with it being made in a practice round, but it could signal good things to come for the Austrian this week.
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Straka plays in his second Masters this week after a T30 in his Augusta debut last year. The 2022 Honda Classic champion currently ranks 33rd in the world and looks a potential for the 2023 Ryder Cup later this year in Rome.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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