It was like nothing the game of golf has ever seen.
Chase Koepka scored a hole-in-one at the LIV Golf tournament’s party hole in Adelaide – and rowdy fans responded by showering the pumped 29-year-old American in beer cans and roaring at a decibel level resembling a jumbo jet.
He might not be a snowflakes chance in hell of winning, despite being at a very respectable -10, but Koepka will be drinking in – literally – this shot for the rest of his career.
The par-three, 12th hole is quite aptly named the ‘Watering Hole’, where, as Phil Mickelson put it on Saturday, ‘the alcohol has been flowing’ and the ‘golf has been loud’.
Up stepped Koepka, the somewhat less heralded brother of two-time US Open winner Brooks, with a – and a perfect iron saw his ball trickle into the hole, which was 165 yard away. And boy, you’ve never seen a reaction in golf like this before.
Chase Koepka (far right) chest bumps with Smash GC teammates Paul Casey (SR) after sinking an incredible hole-in-one on Sunday
The American threw his club down in jubilation after he aced the par-three twelfth hole
Koepka and the crowd reacted in ‘astonishing scenes’ with chest bumps, beer showers and roars like a jumbo jet
Koepka was pumped up after his hole-in-one, with plastic beer cups seen strewn behind him
Or any sport really, for that matter.
Koepka himself was as pumped as any athlete you’ll ever see, smashing his club down in elation as he chest bumped with Smash GC teammates Paul Casey and Ian Poulter.
And fans roared like they were welcoming home a World Cup winner at a ticker-tape parade, showering the stars with beer cups in a moment that was quickly labelled as ‘astonishing’ and the ‘best moment in LIV Golf history’.
Comedian Bert Kreischer was wildly swinging it around as Koepka received his beer shower – the decidedly Australian equivalent of the more upmarket champagne shower.
There was a lot of controversy when Aussie great Greg Norman launched the rebel LIV Golf tour.
There were doubts, criticism of the Saudi regime’s so-called ‘sportswashing’ and many of the players were alienated from the game.
That has well and truly evaporated as fans, pundits and legends of the game all around the world expressed their amazement at the ace from Chase, and the incredible reaction from the fans on-course.
And as one fan even pointed out: ‘The line at the bars at the Watering hole is about to be epic. Not a liquid left in the stands!’
90,000 fans piled into the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide to watch the LIV Golf tournament that has transformed the game Down Under
Chase Koepka has had a stroke tournament with his Smash GC teammates, and is sitting -10
Fans cheers Koepka at the 12th hole after his stunning hole-in-one
‘Imagine watching that scene and thinking #LIVGolf can still be ignored,’ wrote another.
‘I have been watching Golf since the 1970’s and seen some absolute ridiculous stuff….but this Chase Koepka hole-in-one at the ‘Watering Hole’ and the subsequent mayhem, has delivered arguably the greatest-ever golf scenes witnessed in Australia,’ commented an old school supporter.
It’s safe to say Norman is very pleased with how the event has gone down at The Grange Golf Club.
90,000 punters have packed in for what feels like a non-stop three day party.
‘Everywhere you go, golf is a force for good,’ he told reporters.
Aussie cult hero Cameron Smith, loudly cheered everywhere he went, said the tournament had completely transformed golf Down Under in just one tournament.
Cameron Smith salutes the crowd at the Watering Hole after sinking a clutch putt on Saturday
‘The crowd is so young. Not only kids, guys in their 20s and 30s all out there, it’s hard to say it’s not growing the game of golf,’ he said.
‘You’ve got to wonder how many people are going to pick up the clubs next week and give it a shot.’
The reigning British Open champion even went so far as to say it was the best tournament he has been involved in.
‘I would go as far as to say this is the best event I have ever played. I’m probably biased a little bit, being from Australia, but this is what LIV Golf is about.’
Beer, hole-in-ones, raucous cheers and chest bumping. Yep, that’s what LIV Golf is all about – and the fans are absolutely here for it.
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