Jon Rahm’s incredible practice ace at Augusta back in 2020 continues to inspire golfers in a variety of positions to take on the water.
This particular golfer skipped his shot over a greenside pond, onto a concrete lip and perfectly into the hole.
This might have been the result of many tries, but it’s still a lot of fun to watch.
Rahm’s intentional ball-skipping across the pond in front of the 16th green during a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club resulted in a hole-in-one that went viral.
It also occurred at the par-3 fourth hole on his 26th birthday, one day after he shot an ace the same hole. However, at least since the 1970s, there have been several skip shots at the 16th-hole pond shot.
Vijay Singh might be credited with the modern revival of the pond skip attempts having got one right in 2009.
The 16th hole was redesigned by the late architect Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1946 and 1947.
Originally a short hole with a gentle pitch over a small stream, it is now a longer, harder hole with the tee shot played entirely over a pond.
Ken Green claims to be the first man to skip the pond in a relatively modern setting back in 1987.
“It was like he designed the hole to be played like that,” Green said of the hole.
Green received a stern reprimand from Augusta National Chairman at the time Hord Hardin.
“I think the words were, ‘Here at Augusta, we refrain from that sort of behavior,’ ” recalled Green.
Billy Andrade was notable in his opposition to the practice.
“What’s going to happen is, someone is going to miss the water and it is just going to be a bullet over the green and kill somebody,” he said.
Davis Love III also stood opposed but would later come around to it being all in good fun.
“But once you understand that there are a bunch of fans that sit there all day and that’s the only day they come to the Masters, you realize this is good entertainment for them,” Love said. “And if all the chairmen haven’t stopped it, then I guess it’s OK.”
