GREAT BRITAIN'S JUSTIN ROSE CELEBRATED GOLF'S RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC PROGRAMME ATRIO 2016, AFTER MORE THAN CENTURY’S ABSENCE, IN SPECTACULAR STYLE ON 11 AUGUST, BY CONJURING A “HOLE IN ONE”.
The 2013 US Open champion watched his tee shot, at the par three fourth hole of his opening round, land in front of the cup and slowly roll right into the hole. When the ball disappeared Rose broke into a wide smile, raised both hands into the air and high-fived everyone around him.
Having written his name into the record books with his ace, Rose put himself in the thick of the gold medal hunt by carding a four-under 67 in difficult gusting conditions to finish four strokes behind first-round leader Marcus Fraser of Australia, who produced some superb golf on the Gil Hanse designed course carved into the Marapendi Nature Reserve. The 38-year-old produced nine birdies with a single bogey for a course record eight-under 63.
“(The Olympics take place) once every four years, I just think it is so unique and something I'm all for," enthused Rose. "This is great competition, you just have to look around at the scale of the whole Olympic Games and what a big deal it is. This is competition at the highest level and that's what I live for."
Marcus Fraser of Australia, who produced some superb golf on the Gil Hanse designed course carved into the Marapendi Nature Reserve. The 38-year-old produced nine birdies with a single bogey for an Olympic course record eight-under 63.
“Very rarely do you get to represent your country," said Fraser, who plays primarily on the European Tour. "I feel very fortunate to be in this position. Right now I have the Olympic record. That's pretty cool. This is one of the best rounds I've ever played, given the circumstances.”