Paisley makes first European Tour hole in one

What’s better than a hole in one? A hole in one when you desperately needed one.

Chris Paisley arrived at Doha Golf Club on Friday in need of some luck, having failed to make a birdie in his opening round. His wishes came true at the 135 yard 17th hole when he watched his nine iron bounce next to the pin and spin into the hole for an ace.

“I was in between a wedge and a nine-iron, and decided to go with a little nine-iron. I just hit it perfectly and when it landed, I said, ‘go in’, and it did, so I’m just delighted,” said Paisley, who also birdied 18 for a tournament-changing 67.

The 30 year is teeing up this season on the back of the best year of his career in 2016 where he made the cut in 15 events, finishing in the top 25 seven times, including top fives at the Italian Open and Portugal Masters.

“It was a great feeling, but strange, as I went 27 holes this week without making a birdie and was three-over-par, struggling to make the cut. All of a sudden I made a couple of birdies and had a hole-in-one and I was inside the cut mark. I suppose it shows you – never give up!”

That “never give up” attitude earned the Englishman a place in the weekend field at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and also won him $150,000 from Qatar Duty Free. However, it may not be Chris that gets to spend his winnings.

“I don’t think it’s going to be me that's spending it. My wife’s here this week, so I think she'll probably take care of that.”

The ace is Paisley’s first on the European Tour and joins an elite list of ten players who have hit the perfect shot in the 20 editions of the Qatar Masters. He is the first to do so on the 17th hole since Warren Bennett 12 years ago.

“I think that's five holes in one in total in my life, but this is definitely the most memorable.”

Paisley joins Jarrod Lyle and Jaco Van Zyl as the only players to make an ace in the 2017 Race to Dubai so far.