Amateur Golfer Scores Rare Hole-in-One At Masters Tournament
Amateur Golfer Scores Rare Hole-in-One At Masters Tournament...
A 22-year-old amateur golfer stunned spectators at the Masters Tournament on Sunday by sinking a hole-in-one on Augusta National's iconic 16th hole. The shot, which occurred during the final round, marked only the 34th ace in Masters history and the first by an amateur since 2001.
College golfer Jake Carter from Oklahoma State University achieved the feat using a 7-iron on the 170-yard par-3. The ball landed just short of the pin before rolling perfectly into the cup, sparking thunderous applause from the Georgia crowd. CBS cameras captured the moment as Carter's playing partners, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler, erupted in celebration.
The shot immediately went viral on social media, with the Masters' official Twitter account posting the clip. It has garnered over 2 million views in just six hours. Golf analysts note that Carter's achievement is particularly remarkable given the pressure of competing at Augusta during Sunday's final round.
Holes-in-one are rare at any level of golf, occurring approximately once every 3,500 rounds for amateur players. At the Masters, they're even more uncommon due to the tournament's challenging course conditions and elite competition. The 16th hole has yielded the most aces in tournament history with 24.
Carter, who earned his Masters invitation by winning the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship, was already guaranteed low amateur honors before his historic shot. The achievement caps a memorable tournament debut for the young golfer, who finished at 4-over par for the event.
The Masters continues through Sunday afternoon, with the leaders set to tee off at 2:30 PM ET. Carter's hole-in-one has become the tournament's most talked-about moment so far, trending nationwide on Twitter and Google searches. Golf fans are calling it one of the most exciting shots in recent Masters memory.