Friday 14 October 2016 10:53, UK
Morgan Hoffmann hit an early contender for shot of the season in the very first event of the new PGA Tour campaign after he made an incredible albatross in the opening round of the Safeway Open.
Hoffmann had made a quiet start to his round after beginning at the 10th and was level par after eight holes when he suddenly vaulted to three under with a single blow at the 575-yard par-five 18th at the Silverado Resort in California.
The 29-year-old split the fairway with a huge drive and left himself 251 yards to the pin, and his perfectly-struck long-iron had just enough hang time to clear the front left bunker, pitching in the rough and hopping onto the green before his ball rolled straight into the cup.
If that was shot of the day, the best improvisation award went to Tag Ridings, who found himself in an awkward spot on the edge of a bunker at the fourth and struggled to find a conventional stance to pitch on.
So he decided the only way to make decent contact with his ball was to stand with his back to the hole and play a one-handed backhand chip, which proved a successful choice as he pitched to 12 feet and knocked in the putt!
Watch the videos to see two cracking shots on the opening day of the PGA Tour season at the Safeway Open.
