Pierre Fulke’’s five wood second shot to the 16th hole in the final round of the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo Hotel and Golf Resort has been judged as the Canon Shot of the Year on the European Tour’’s International Schedule in 2000.
The 29 year old Swede struck his approach 215 yards to within 25 feet of the pin at the 517 yards hole and holed the putt for an eagle three. That single stroke effectively sealed his second victory of the season after a close contest with Darren Clarke and secured his place in the following week’’s World Golf Championships-American Express Championship.
“It was, without question, the best shot I’’ve hit in my career – especially under the pressure of knowing the title was on the line” he said. “I split the fairway with my drive and as I walked towards my ball I thought the wind was pretty much in my face and I reckoned I would need a three wood to reach the green.
“However I got there and realised the wind was off the left, blowing towards the water guarding the green to the right. Darren played first and laid up just short of the green. I expected him to make a birdie four from there – as he did – so I knew the worst I could afford was a birdie to match him. I wasn’’t really thinking ‘eagle’’ at that stage.
“I had the perfect yardage for my five wood so I grabbed the club, and hit the shot just where I aimed, about six yards to the left of the pin. It was a dangerous shot and I knew it. I had to aim to the left because anything off-line to the right would flirt with the water, especially with the left to right wind. If I had gone in the water that would have been that.
“My mouth was dry but I knew as soon as I made contact that it was a good strike and I was on the move straight away, still watching my ball in flight but knowing it was good. It landed softly on exactly the place on the green that I wanted to hit, and the eagle putt was a bonus.”
Indeed, a worthy winner of the Canon Shot of the Year and following in a long line of great shots, such as Nick Faldo’’s wedge in the Ryder Cup at Oak Hill in 1995; Colin Montgomerie’’s driver off the fairway at the 72nd hole in the Dubai Desert Classic in 1996; Montgomerie’’s 18th hole tee shot in the 1997 Ryder Cup; Miguel Angel Jiménez’’s chip-in at the Trophée Lancôme in 1998 and Sergio Garcia’’s six iron shot in the 1999 US PGA Championship.
