Thomson makes stunning ace at Royal St George's

A big man produced a big moment as Jonathan Thomson made a hole-in-one on day two of The 2021 Open Championship.

The 25-year-old has one of the most remarkable stories in the game and has added another chapter after needing just a single blow on the 16th at Royal St George's Golf Club.

The Englishman was diagnosed with leukemia aged seven but continued to play golf throughout a five-year battle with the disease before going into remission as a 12 year old.

Eight years later he was a professional and in 2017 he came through all three stages of the Qualifying School to earn his European Tour card and - at six feet nine and a half inches - become the tallest player in Tour history.

He lost a play-off at the 2018 Made In Denmark and now, making his Major Championship debut, he has written his name into Open history.

"You dream about playing in The Open as a kid and then you come here, have a hole-in-one and make the cut, and it's just like, wow," he said.

"It's just phenomenal to be honest. Like the roar, the shot, everything about that hole, it's indescribable really. 

"It sort of was a real booster because I was grinding out there as well, to be fair. It wasn't easy. I was playing good. I just couldn't seem to get anything going properly.

You dream about playing in The Open as a kid and then you come here, have a hole-in-one and make the cut, and it's just like, wow

"Then that happened and it was like, you know, that's just awesome."

He was one over and right on the cut mark stood on the 16th but after his ace and a birdie on the 17th, he is comfortably through to the weekend at two under after a 67.

"I think every professional golfer out there, you sort of have to have a look what the mark is otherwise you've got nothing to work towards," he said. 

"I kind of knew I was always right on the bubble, but I also knew that I was playing great, so patience was key and thankfully it's paid off."