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Cape Town - While Tom Watson turned back the clock in winning the Masters Par-3 Contest on Wednesday, it was the 15-year-old grandson of golfing great Jack Nicklaus who stole the show.
Eight-time major champion Watson became the oldest
Masters Par-3 Contest winner at age 68, capturing the casual competition at Augusta National on the eve of the 82nd Masters which starts on Thursday.
Nicklaus, 78, enjoyed what he called his greatest moment in golf when he watched G.T. Nicklaus, serving as his caddie, sink his first ever hole-in-one at the 135-yard ninth on a just-for-fun swing.
"I was just trying to hit it on the green, hit a good shot and set it up," said the son of Gary Nicklaus.
"For that to happen was just unbelievable."
The eldest Nicklaus was in tears.
"What I did didn't make any difference to me. Watching your grandson do something is pretty special," the 18-time major winner said.
"To watch the kid knock in a hole-in-one on the biggest venue in the world, wow. It was a very special day, one I'll never forget."
South Africa's Dylan Frittelli and American Tony Finau also had hole-in-ones, Frittelli at the 120-yard eighth hole and Finau at the 115-yard seventh. Finau twisted his left ankle as he celebrated, but kept on playing.
With all due respect to @themasters, allow me to put my 6 Green Jackets in the closet for a moment and say that I don’t know if I have had a more special day on a golf course. To have your grandson make his first hole-in-one on this stage.... WOW! #Family #memoryofalifetime pic.twitter.com/3TSLwlV0m9
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) April 4, 2018
Where, Tom Rinaldi, does this moment rank for me among @TheMasters memories? No. 1 ?? What does it mean? Everything. And certainly enough to make this old man cry. What a day! @espn pic.twitter.com/n7wgLOSLoZ
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) April 5, 2018
