When as a young boy, Colin McKay became the first man to take part in a hole-in-one on Australia’s signature golf course at Royal Melbourne, his ultimate ambition was to mark the occasion in the correct fashion.
“I wanted to have a first-ball major championship win, but obviously I didn’t think for a second that it would be at Royal Melbourne,” he said on Monday. “I think the club was pretty nervous as well.”
Instead, the reward for his feat in 1926 — after driving the second-last hole into a bush — was what may be a more important piece of grand-prix history: The most successful winner on the men’s side of the Bendigo Gold Cup was given free use of the clubhouse for a year.
After his recent hole-in-one — his 15th on the course in 183 attempts — his goal remains the same as ever:
“I just want to win a major, no questions asked, and finish ahead of Jack Nicklaus on the money list,” said McKay, who turned 102 on Aug. 13.
He also has an international tennis winner on his roster:
