So, it really might be Sergio Garcia’s year, huh?
The Spaniard hadn’t teed it up in professional competition since capturing his first major at Augusta National in April, but he’s at TPC Sawgrass for the Players this week. Garcia looked a bit rusty on the front nine, going out with a +4 40, and he remained +4 heading into the 16th hole, which he birdied.
That meant it was time to face down the island green at 17, one of the more famous holes in golf.
How’d he do? Well, essentially perfect:
WOW!!@TheSergioGarcia makes an ACE at the iconic 17th hole at @TPCSawgrass!#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/KZVnATFDsM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 11, 2017
Have a year, Sergio, my goodness.
A few nuggets on the ace:
Aces at 17 in tourney history:
1986: Fabel
1991: Claar
1997: Couples
1999: Sindelar
2000: Azinger
2002: Jimenez
2016: Wilcox
2017: Garcia— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) May 11, 2017
Going fourteen years from 2002-2016 and then having them in back-to-back years is fascinating, and a reminder of how much random chance goes into a hole-in-one.
Sergio Garcia: 1st player to win Masters & make ace in PGA Tour event in same season since Tiger Woods in 1997
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) May 11, 2017
ACE ON 17!! pic.twitter.com/cmBm0p6mvS
— Skratch (@Skratch) May 11, 2017
Great moment on @THEPLAYERSChamp 17th for late staying fans as @TheSergioGarcia makes ace, gets to watch replay too: pic.twitter.com/sUJVnZrfqJ
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) May 11, 2017
I'd love to go back to 2008 and tell everyone Donald Trump is president and Sergio Garcia can do no wrong.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) May 11, 2017
Setting the number at 56,178.5 and like the over https://t.co/BhJ7TwiRpr
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) May 11, 2017
Garcia ended up parring the 18th, coming in with 33 on the back side for a +1 73 on the day. That’s only good enough for a T68, but it leaves him in position to make the cut tomorrow, and it’s only 6 shots off William McGirt’s lead.
Plus, of course, he aced one of the best holes in the world to ace, which is nice.
