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By Reuters 
5h ago
AUGUSTA – Jon Rahm had a hole-in-one at Augusta National on Tuesday for the second day in a row, and this time there was a camera to record the feat for posterity, even if there were no fans to celebrate the feat.
There is no record of Rahm’s ace Monday at the 225-yard fourth hole, except for a short, grainy video of him pulling the ball out of the cup.
But television cameras were working Tuesday as the Spaniard approached the tee at par three 16 on his 26th birthday and attempted a trick shot that is part of the tradition of the Masters practice round.
Avoiding a tee, he hit his ball off the grass and leapt across the pond, his ball skimming the water three times before bouncing off the putt surface.
From there it rolled and rolled, taking the contour of the green perfectly and curving up and to the left and then down into the cup, which cut into the rear left corner of the green.
His ball was in motion for 20 seconds, the excitement only increasing as he got closer and closer to the hole.
His second in two days, Jon Rahm makes his way to a hole-in-one at No. 16, on his birthday, no less. #teachers pic.twitter.com/rtefAN5XtH
– The Masters (@TheMasters) November 10, 2020
In normal times, there would be thousands of viewers circling the hole, but in the absence of fans, banned this year due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, only a handful of people witnessed the feat and cheered with joy.
Rahm could barely contain his joy, while his practice partner Rickie Fowler nearly collapsed with laughter at the improbability of it all.
The episode offered a timely reminder of how this year’s Masters will be so different.
Another angle, narrated by the 2018 Masters champion @PreedGolf. pic.twitter.com/9f5EUhBDCt
– PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2020
Although players have quickly adapted to playing fanless since returning to competition after a three-month professional golf shutdown, the Masters and its “sponsors,” as they are known, are inextricably linked.
“Imagine the roars that would have been created in a normal year,” said Rory McIlroy, speaking at a news conference shortly after learning of Rahm’s ace.
Imagine also if there had been no one there when Tiger Woods made his famous contribution on the same 16th hole and celebrated with a primal shout in the final round on his way to victory in 2005.
Or if all had been quiet when Jack Nicklaus nearly hit the hole as he charged to victory in 1986.
This year, some players aren’t even bothering with the routine of the trick practice round.
“It’s definitely for the fans,” Justin Thomas said.
“On Sunday we were going to jump (our balls) and we had a group of members behind us, and they were on the 15th green, so we didn’t feel the need to hold them.
“And yesterday Tiger and Freddy really didn’t want to and I do what they say in this place, so I’m 0 out of 2.”
Reuters
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