Claude Harmon's First Career Ace Came in the Masters

The first came in 1947 when Claude Harmon used a 7-iron from 155 yards in the third round.

Ben Hogan was Harmon’s playing competitor that day and also wrote as a correspondent for the newspapers that week.

Here’s what Hogan wrote about the 1948 Masters winner.

I was paired with Claude Harmon, pro at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y, in the Summer and at the Seminole Golf Club in Plam Beach in the winter, and I had the pleasure of seeing him score the first hole in one of his career.

Harmon took a seven iron on the 155-yard par three 12^th hole after one bounce. It was a beautiful shot. To the best of my recollection, it is the first time I have ever played with anybody in tournament competitions when they have scored an ace.

In scoring his hole in one Harmon joins Willie Goggin, Sandy Somerville and Ray Billows on the list of those who have scored aces during the Masters competition.

As he is kept busy with two of the best club jobs in the country, Claude doesn’t get much of a chance to play in tournaments.

But he got a great thrill out of that ace.

In commenting on it afterwards he said: “I kind of wish now I hadn’t got that hole in one. I got so excited that I bogeyed every hole after that.”