Introduction
On Thursday, April 8, 2021, Tommy Fleetwood thrilled the crowds at Augusta National with a sensational hole-in-one on the par-3 16th during the opening round of the Masters. The British star became just the 32nd player in Masters history to ace the iconic hole, sparking roars from fans and lifting his round into the spotlight. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Fleetwood’s ace was one of the early highlights of the tournament.
A Defining Shot
Facing the 170-yard 16th hole, Fleetwood selected an 8-iron, aiming to ride the slope famously used by many players to funnel the ball toward the cup. His swing was pure, and the ball landed perfectly on the ridge, took the break, and rolled smoothly into the hole. According to Sky Sports, the crowd erupted in classic Augusta fashion. Fleetwood, typically reserved, broke into a broad smile and celebrated with caddie Ian Finnis.
In a later interview, as shared by the Daily Mail, Fleetwood said, “It was just one of those great moments. The shot came off exactly how I saw it.”
Leaderboard Impact
The ace came at a critical moment for Fleetwood, who had struggled early in his round. The hole-in-one gave him a jolt of momentum and helped him salvage a respectable score of 74 for the day. While it didn’t vault him into the lead, the moment boosted his confidence heading into the rest of the tournament. Express.co.uk noted that the shot energized his group and brought a sense of excitement to a tough scoring day.
Other Notables
The first round at Augusta featured strong play from Justin Rose, who surged ahead of the field with a brilliant 65, while big names like Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy struggled to find form. In that context, Fleetwood’s ace stood out as a rare moment of magic and fanfare on a day when birdies were hard to come by.
What’s Next
Fleetwood entered the weekend rounds just outside the cut line, needing a strong Friday performance to extend his Masters campaign. While the ace didn’t guarantee leaderboard success, it injected energy into his game and reignited belief in his shot-making ability. As the weekend unfolded, fans kept their eyes on Fleetwood, hoping for another Augusta moment to remember.
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