Shanghai, China – Matt Kuchar had a rare hole-in-one but felt like crying afterwards at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Saturday.
The US Ryder Cup player aced Sheshan International Golf Club's treacherous par-three 17th, but was 24 hours too late to win a brand new luxury Cadillac CT6 40T Prem.
"It was the saddest hole-in-one," Kuchar told reporters. "I knew I just made a hole-in-one and I was teased by this beautiful car sitting there, that's not to be mine."
During Thursday and Friday's opening two rounds of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai the car had been on offer to anyone who could make a hole-in-one.
But on Saturday the teeing ground was moved up inside 200 yards as its turf had cut up badly in wet conditions this week.
The reduced length of the usually 212-yard hole negated the sponsor's insurance cover -- meaning no car could be given away.
"Most of the time a hole-in-one, you're just overjoyed with excitement," said Kuchar.
"But literally, a minute before my shot, I found out.
"There's a car sitting there, the most beautiful Cadillac sitting on a tee with the note below saying, 'This hole is under 200 yards, thus no longer qualifies for the insurance for the giveaway for the prize'."
He said the worst part was he wasn't sure how he was going to explain it all to his young golf-mad son.
"I've got this nine-year-old son at home that's just a golf junkie, always asking have I ever made a hole-in-one with a car on it," said Kuchar.
"And now I finally have. But unfortunately the insurance was taken away due to the forward tee."
Kuchar soon found out why the tee had been moved and said he knew who to blame.
"Henrik Stenson came up and said: 'My fault, the back tee box was not in very good shape'.
"He was the one that asked for the tees to be moved forward," said Kuchar.
He added with a smile: "He owes me something."
The ace did help propel Kuchar to a 68 and to nine-under for the tournament.
"A hole-in-one is great to have. It's an eagle and to put two-under on a scorecard on a hole is a nice thing and certainly helps my placement out a good bit."
He is in a six-way tie for eighth place going into Sunday's final round, eight shots behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.
AFP