Reporting from AUGUSTA, Ga. — Billiards golf anyone?
In what likely is the strangest, luckiest, most memorable ace to be witnessed by millions, Louis Oosthuizen made a hole in one at the Masters on Sunday with a trick shot.
Paul Newman didn’t do it better in “The Hustler.”
Oosthuizen’s seven-iron tee shot at Augusta National’s par-three 16th hole caught the bank above the flagstick and drifted toward the cup. There was an obstacle, though, on his line — J.B. Holmes’ ball.
Seemingly getting a bad break, Oosthuizen’s ball tapped the other one, but after slightly changing path, it got back on line and rolled into the cup. Holmes’ ball nearly went in, too, though it wouldn’t have counted.
In total disbelief, Oosthuizen raised his club above his head and then dropped it.
“I’ve seen it on par-fours happen, but to do it in that setting on 16, that was brilliant,” Oosthuizen said. “That is the place where you want to make a long putt or chip or do anything.”
Oosthuizen shot 71 and finished at three over.
His was the third ace of the day at No. 16, coming after a record nine hole in ones made during the par-three contest Wednesday. The others Sunday were scored by Davis Love III and Shane Lowry.
Love, 51, is the upcoming U.S. Ryder Cup captain and hadn’t scored a competitive ace in his previous 19 trips to Augusta. He said he had jokingly complained to playing partner Webb Simpson that he hadn’t won any crystal trophies this year for making eagle.
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Danny Willett of England walks along the 15th hole during the final round of the Masters on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jordan Spieth gathers his thoughts on the 18th green before finishing the final round with a one-over 73.
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Jordan Spieth presents Danny Willett the winner’s green jacket Sunday evening at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Augusta National chairman William Porter Payne presents American Bryson DeChambeau with the trophy for being the top amateur at the Masters during the awards ceremony Sunday evening.
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Masters champion Danny Willett gives the thumbs-up sign to fans after the awards ceremony at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jordan Spieth gets a pat on the back from caddie Michael Greller on the 18th hole after finishing second at the Masters.
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Jordan Spieth takes a second drop on the 12th hole after one of the two times his shots landed in Rae’s Creek while hitting approach shots there during the final round of the Masters tournament.
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Jordan Spieth plays his second shot on the 11th hole from the trees during the final round of the Masters on Sunday.
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Danny Willett reacts after making a putt at No. 14 on Sunday during the final round of the Masters.
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Hideki Matsuyama of Japan chips onto a green during the final round of the Masters on Sunday.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot out of the bunker during the final round of the Masters.
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Lee Westwood of England reacts after making an eagle on the 15th hole during the final round of the Masters.
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Jason Day of Australia reacts after playing a shot Sunday during the final round of the Masters.
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Patrons leave Augusta National Golf Club after the third round of the Masters.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot onto the 16th green during third round of the Masters.
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Bernhard Lange tips his cap to the crowd after putting out at No. 18 during the third round of the Masters on Saturday.
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Jordan Spieth walks out of the trees along the 18th fairway after hitting a recovery shot during the third round of the Masters.
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Jordan Spieth hits out of the rough along the 17th fairway Saturday during the third round of the Masters.
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Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays his second shot on the 12th hole during the third round of the Masters.
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Rory McIlroy reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 17th green during the third round of the Masters.
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Sergio Garcia of Spain lines up a putt on the 13th green during the third round of the Masters.
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American Scott Piercy creates a splash of sand as he hits out of a bunker during the third round of the Masters.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy hits out of a bunker on the 18th green during Round 1 of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Ian Poulter, of England, reacts after missing a putt on the first hole during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Danny Lee, of New Zealand, hits a drive on the second hole during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Mike Weir of Canada hit out of a bunker on the second hole during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jason Day, of Australia, watches his drive on the second hole during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, hits out of a bunker on the fourth hole during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Patrons walk along the first fairway before the start of play during the second round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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A scorekeeper peers through a hole from behind a board during Round 1 of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Martin Kaymer of Germany down the fairway on the fifteenth hole during the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Australia’s Steven Bowditch putts on 1st hole during Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in April. (DON EMMERT / AFP/Getty Images)
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Rickie Fowler hits out of the rough off the first fairway during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jordan Spieth hits on the second fairway during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Victor Dubuisson of France and caddie Leonard Francois walk up the third fairway during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Amateur Bryson DeChambeau tees off on the third hole during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jordan Spieth lines up a putt on the first hole during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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A scorekeeper places numbers on a leaderboard during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jack Nicklaus waves before hitting a ceremonial first tee shot before the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Steven Bowditch of Australia celebrates after chipping in a birdie on the first hole during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Lee Westwood of England chips on the second hole during the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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A sign bearing the names of the honorary starters Gary Player of South Africa, Jack Nicklaus of the U.S. and Arnold Palmer of the U.S. before they ceremonially open the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player together on the first tee at the ceremonially opening of the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament.
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Patrons wait for the gates to open near the first fairway before the start of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Patrons file onto the course after the gates are opened near the first fairway before the start of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
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Spectators line a fairway to watch the first round of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press) “It was a great way to finish my Masters,” said Love, who scored 73 and had an 11-over total.
“I didn’t play well on the weekend, so I was disappointed not to get a run at getting in again next year, but nice way to finish.”
Love was in the tournament because he won the Wyndham Championship last year.
After Lowry, a burly Irishman, picked his ball out of the hole at No. 16, he faked as if he was going to throw it into the crowd before depositing it in his pocket.
“[The ball] will definitely go in a frame somewhere in the house,” said Lowry, who closed with a 75 and finished at 10 over.
He said he scored his last hole in one in Dubai with his parents in attendance.
Brotherly love
P.J. Willett, the brother of Masters winner Danny Willett, became a star in his own right Sunday with some well-played shots on Twitter (@P_J_Willett). A sampling:
“Speechless. I once punched that kid in the head for hurting my pet rat. Now look.”
“If the boy does what he should, I will be able to say ‘I’ve shared a bath with a Masters winner’ — brilliant.
(On final hole) “Just. Hit. The. Green ... Please.”
“3 putt this & you might as well stay in America.”
“Green makes you look fat, refuse the jacket.”
Top-scoring amateur
Bryson DeChambeau was the top-scoring amateur. The reigning U.S. amateur champion, who is turning pro, scored his third 72 of the week in the final round and tied for 21st and at five over.
tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com
