IT WAS the shot seen around the world.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen may have lost a dramatic Masters playoff to crowd favourite Bubba Watson at Augusta on Sunday, but he played one of the greatest shots in Masters history.
On the par-five second, Oosthuizen holed a 212m four iron for an albatross, or double-eagle as the Americans call it. It launched him from seven-under to 10-under and a two-stroke lead.
"That was my first double-eagle ever," Oosthuizen confirmed. "It was tough to get my head around it through the next five holes and just play the course.
"When something like that happens early in your round, you think that this is it."
In 1935 golfing legend Gene Sarazen made an albatross on the par-five 15th, using a fairway wood from 200m on his way to his first green jacket. It was witnessed by about 60 people and was described as "the shot heard around the world" in that pre-television era.
The rarity of that shot was the moment that made the Masters famous, and until Sunday there had only been two other albatrosses at the Masters - produced by Bruce Devlin at the eighth in 1967, and Jeff Maggert at the 13th in 1994.
Oosthuizen's remarkable shot and the fame that will come with it, was small consolation for the 2010 British Open winner. Winning the Masters was a chance to vali-date his famous Open victory after 18 months of struggling with a niggling ankle injury.
At 29, Oosthuizen will have more chances to win majors.
Ernie Els had two majors by the time he was 27.
Oosthuizen makes golf history
IT WAS the shot seen around the world.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen may have lost a dramatic Masters playoff to crowd favourite Bubba Watson at Augusta on Sunday, but he played one of the greatest shots in Masters history.
On the par-five second, Oosthuizen holed a 212m four iron for an albatross, or double-eagle as the Americans call it. It launched him from seven-under to 10-under and a two-stroke lead.
"That was my first double-eagle ever," Oosthuizen confirmed. "It was tough to get my head around it through the next five holes and just play the course.
"When something like that happens early in your round, you think that this is it."
In 1935 golfing legend Gene Sarazen made an albatross on the par-five 15th, using a fairway wood from 200m on his way to his first green jacket. It was witnessed by about 60 people and was described as "the shot heard around the world" in that pre-television era.
The rarity of that shot was the moment that made the Masters famous, and until Sunday there had only been two other albatrosses at the Masters - produced by Bruce Devlin at the eighth in 1967, and Jeff Maggert at the 13th in 1994.
Oosthuizen's remarkable shot and the fame that will come with it, was small consolation for the 2010 British Open winner. Winning the Masters was a chance to vali-date his famous Open victory after 18 months of struggling with a niggling ankle injury.
At 29, Oosthuizen will have more chances to win majors.
Ernie Els had two majors by the time he was 27.
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