Joost Luiten’s stunning albatross on the 11th hole at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation has been voted the 2017 Shot of the Year by European Tour fans.
The Dutchman’s incredible feat - the fifth albatross on the European Tour in 2017 and just the third in tournament play at Real Club Valderrama - was almost more remarkable when he came to within inches of finding the cup for a hole-in-one on the following hole.
Luiten’s second albatross of his European Tour career came when the 31 year old holed his second shot with a four iron from 242 yards - the first ever albatross on the long par five 11th hole - and moved him into the halfway lead at the famous Spanish golf course. Luiten went on to finish runner up to tournament host and local favourite Sergio Garcia.
It’s one I’ll remember for a long time - Luiten
“I’m really pleased it was voted Shot of the Year and it’s one I’ll remember for a long time,” Luiten said.
“I had 221 metres, the wind was helping a bit and I hit four iron. We couldn’t see it but then the crowd went crazy. It was a great moment and I love that people out there enjoyed it and voted for it so thanks to everyone that voted.
“Overall Spain was a good week for me last year and it’s a tournament that I enjoy. I’ve been working hard over the last few weeks and I can’t wait to get going in 2018.”
Luiten’s outstanding shot received 36 per cent of the vote - more than double the number of votes cast for runner up Jon Rahm in the European Tour’s 2017 Shot of the Year poll. Rahm’s hole out at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation received 14 per cent of the fan votes while Paul Dunne’s winning chip in on the 18th at the British Masters supported by Sky Sport also made the top three.
The final standings in 2017 Shot of the Year voting:
- Joost Luiten - Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation
2. Jon Rahm – Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation
3. Paul Dunne - British Masters supported by Sky Sports
4. Rory McIlroy – BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni
5. Rafa Cabrera Bello – Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
6. Lee Westwood – HNA Open de France
7. Andy Sullivan – Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
8. Alex Noren – BMW PGA Championship
9. Hideto Tanihara – WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
10. Tommy Fleetwood – Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
