Smylie Kaufman talks about Rickie Fowler's ace, playing Pine Valley

Having the opportunity to play a round at Pine Valley is every golfer's dream. But you do the ace in the world's best course while you were there? That launches the experience straight into the bucket list stratosphere.

That's exactly what happened to Rickie Fowler on a recent visit to the course, and PGA Tour broadcaster-turned-broadcaster Smylie Kaufman was there to witness it. How was that? Kaufman shared this with Subpar hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on this week's episode.

“I get to the third, I'm like, I've got to find something,” Kaufman said. “Then Justin followed [Thomas] it started well. And you're like, you're going to need to get your phones out because I'm about to do a hole-in-one. I'm like, I'm sweet. At least I'll be in Pine Valley watching them ace. And you hit this beautiful 7-iron, and just hitting this, just soft, it came up like eight yards, right on the line in the basement. And he was like, sick, good shot.

“And then Rickie gets up and hits this great, high, 5-footer, and it stays – because the front left pin, which is a really tight hole, and it stays where it's supposed to, and in the last 10 feet it feels like a year, because it looks like it's going to go in every way. It comes in, and we all leave. “

Kaufman had been struggling with his game in the opening holes that day and laughed when he remembered how he had to hit after Fowler's ace.

“Absolutely, I have to hit the next shot, and Bambi is over there 30 yards off the green, and, he's about to put Bambi and his mother out,” he said. “It was a difficult incident there.”

Kaufman said after playing the course, he understood why there was a need for a higher ranking.

“I was always hesitant – why is Pine Valley rated No. 1 and all?” Kaufman said. “And I get it. It's one of the coolest builds I've ever played. Just the thought behind each hole. It's very challenging and just tests every part of your game. And I'll tell you what to do there. You have to hit it on the road.”

For more from Kaufman, check out the full episode of Subpar below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia's first varsity golf class, Jessica knows how to outrun everyone on the golf course. He can pass them through the office, too, where he is primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF's first Style Issue, which began in February 2018. His first interview series, “A Round With,” released in November 2015, and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.