The 18th hole on the Albatros Course at Le Golf National in Paris, which hosts this week’s Open de France, is famed as one of the toughest closing holes in all of golf.
A 471-yard par-4 it requires an accurate drive to avoid water on the left, and sand traps and mounds on the right.
It is more or less essential to find the fairway to take aim at the green which sits across a lake.
Not only is the carry significant, the green is also on an island with only a narrow walkway connecting it with the dry land beyond.
Anything other than a solid contact will scuttle through the putting surface and into the water.
At the 2022 Open de France, Italy’s Guido Migliozzi had entered the weekend fully 13 shots behind the leader but he had then caught fire and was tied for the lead as he prepared to play the 18th.
He rode the wave, thrashed a drive down the middle of the fairway and then removed his 4-iron from the bag.
Birdie would set a tough target, but it was a huge ask.
What happened next was later voted Shot of the Year on the DP World Tour – watch the video to see.
“He’s cut it,” says commentator Mark Roe. “He’s actually moved it left to right.”
The ball starts off low, rises quickly, and fades towards the pin.
“Wow, that’s unbelievable,” adds Jay Townsend, Roe’s co-commentator. “It’s getting better and better!”
The ball slides across the putting surfaces and briefly looks like dropping before finishing close.
“That’s potentially the first birdie of the day!” Townsend gasps, highlighting how difficult the hole was playing. “If he holes that he’s going to be the winner. An unreal second shot.”
“That has to be the winning shot,” says Roe. “In all honesty that’s the best shot I’ve ever seen into this 18th hole at Paris National. It’s a world beating golf shot. I can’t believe he’s done this.”
“With the difficulty of that shot, and the pressure on the line with the co-lead, that’s just unbelievable execution,” Townsend adds.
“One of the greatest golf shots I’ve seen in my entire career,” Roe concludes.
The birdie completed a round of 62 for Migliozzi and the victory was his.
“A explosion of feelings,” he said afterwards. “An incredible day. A beautiful day.”
And a great shot.
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