Brentwood teen is off to US Masters

09 Oct Brentwood teen is off to US Masters

A teenage golfer from Brentwood is the envy of his friends after securing a place in the Million Dollar Hole in One (MDHIO) grand final and a visit to next year’s US Masters.

James Jensen, 17, took part in the popular competition on the seventh hole on Vale do Lobo’s Royal course in the Algarve, and he aced the 138-yard hole with a pitching wedge.

And his success earned him a trip to the USA, next April, where he will compete in a shootout for $1m and take in a day’s play at the 2019 US Masters.

Jensen said: “I couldn’t believe it when it happened – I’ve never been this lucky before. I have been to the USA once before – we went to Florida when I was a bit younger.

“I’m excited about making the trip and hoping we can stop off in New York and Florida as well … although I haven’t decided who to take with me yet,” he smiled.

Although not a member, Jensen, a student, plays regularly at Brentwood Golf Club. He will participate in the grand final in Augusta during the Masters weekend, in April 2019.

MDHIO’s popular par-three challenge allows competitors to win a selection of golf-related prizes: from balls to pitch-mark repairers for landing on the green, while a hole-in-one at one of the 40 associated courses across Europe earns the chance to shoot for a $1m jackpot.

MDHIO, which has been running since 1990 in the USA and since 2000 in Europe, has steadily grown in popularity with more than 50,000 people each year trying their luck at the various par-three holes at courses across Portugal, mainland Spain, Mallorca and the UK. More than 50 golfers have achieved their ace while playing MDHIO in Europe, while more than twice that number missed out by not entering and, subsequently, acing the hole.