Safety measures cost Spieth hole-in-one during charity game

Texas, May 1 (IANS) Former World No.1 Jordan Spieth saw his spectacular ace pop out of the hole due to a spacer while playing during a charity game at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton in Texas on Thursday.In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, spacers are being used as a precautionary measure at many courses so that golfers aren't required to reach inside the hole to retrieve the ball.Spieth saw his 110-yard shot hit the spacer and fall into water hazard nearby. Later, he said he is going to count it as it seems like a good omen."I'm going to count it," Spieth told Golf Channel. "It was one of those ones where it would most likely have stayed in...I've been shut out for a while, so hopefully this is a good omen.""In a 6-feet-apart way, drinks are on me," he added.The charity match was being organised for caddies who have been out of work due to the pandemic. There is a winning purse in place for winners of the event, however, majority of the proceed will go to the caddies."We're a caddie-only club, and our caddies have not been working because of COVID-19," Alison Morrison of Maridoe Golf Club was quoted as saying by ESPN. "We thought, why don't we have a little bit of a match, so to speak, sharpen our blades, put on a 54-hole, social distancing event. Leave the pins. "No rakes in bunkers. Let's play for them, basically. And within a day, I had 24 members who said yes."
--IANS aak/