Fan catches a piece of Masters history: Oosthuizen’s albatross

Search

Professional At All Times
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
42,732
Tokens
AUGUSTA, Ga. — At Augusta National, history wafts through the pines and across the fairways. And every so often, it drops right in your lap.
Standing in the fairway at the par-5 second hole, one stroke behind the leaders and 260 yards from the pin, Louis Oosthuizen unleashed one of the most magnificent shots in Masters history. His approach hit 28 yards short of the pin, then rolled as if down a gutter, and with one final rotation, dropped into the cup. It was the first albatross, a 3-under-par shot, ever struck on 2, and only the fourth in the entire history of the Masters. And it vaulted Oosthuizen from back in the pack into a two-shot lead.
Smiling his characteristic gap-toothed grin, the one that's given him the nickname "Shrek," Oosthuizen then did the unthinkable: he tossed the potentially historic ball into the crowd.
The lucky recipient? A gentleman by the name of Wayne Mitchell, who hails from New Tripoli, Pa. He caught the ball and almost immediately socked it into his pocket. "My biggest fear was that I would drop it," he said later. "I'm not a souvenir chaser. But there were about 100 people behind me who would have gone for it."
Once Oosthuizen and the following pairing, leaders Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson, finished out the second hole, a couple of club members in green jackets escorted Mitchell and his wife away from the second green. Mitchell took a moment to speak to the media, but made sure to keep the ball in his pocket. You never know, after all.
How much might the ball be worth? Green Jacket Auctions immediately offered $20,000 on Twitter if Oosthuizen wins. But Mitchell said he'd be "respectful" of the club and the tournament, whatever he decides to do with the ball.
Which brings up another point: should Oosthuizen win the Masters, the ball would become an integral part of Augusta National history. And if the club decided it wanted to display the ball, and asked for it? "I'd certainly listen," Mitchell said, his poker face firmly in place.
Asked if he would play the lottery on his way home, he smiled and said, "Why would I need to?"
 

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
28,799
Tokens
That could be the single biggest shot that I've ever seen in a major. The (at least) 2 strokes he gained by that one shot alone could end up being the difference in winning or losing the tournament. I've never seen that big of a shot come so early before in a major.
 

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
5,268
Tokens
Simpy an amazing shot...
Only a few that can say they Albatrossed at Augusta, in The Masters.
 

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
4,271
Tokens
Oosthuizen must be a generous person who really thinks of others because at that point in one's career playing on Sunday at the Masters after making that shot for the lead, most would have mantled that ball that in most likelyhood would have been the ball that won the tournament. Of course I missed the whole thing live as I was out with my sister's dog on a potty break after Sunday Easter Lunch. Oosthuizen earned $844,000 for his second place finish Sunday according to this morning's paper and was an extreme gentleman in his runner up role. Oosthuizen made putt after putt Sunday to keep him in contention where as Mickelson could not recapture his magical putting stroke from Saturday's round. Watson came up with the miracle shot this year and earned a Green Jacket for the United States. Other than Tiger's behavior at times, I thought it was a very exciting tournament this year with many young players cutting their teeth on the legendary Augusta course.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,767
Messages
13,438,801
Members
99,337
Latest member
hbs_solutions
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com