Pro Golfer's Epic Hole-in-One Raises $1 Million for Autism Foundation
Professional golfer Rickie Fowler attended the Els for Autism Foundation‘s charity tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday, and his hole-in-one shot raised $1 million for autism research.
Fellow pro Ernie Els and his wife Liezl have a son with autism, and they started the foundation in 2009. The $1 million Hole-In-One Challenge was sponsored by SAP and Ketel One Vodka, and the payout will come from an insurance policy, reported the Washington Post. Notables like Jack Nicklaus, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, Louis Oosthuizen, Luke Donald, Nick Price and Els himself previously attempted the shot, and Fowler was the 17th pro to take a swing at it.
The money will go to the Els for Autism Foundation and the Els Center of Excellence, according to SB Nation. After Fowler made the shot, Els picked him up and hugged him and later tweeted, “Will always remember this moment. Great support once again from pros. #humbled still can’t believe it!”
Will always remember this moment. Great support once again from pros. #humbled still can’t believe it! #iwasthere pic.twitter.com/LUWOn0kowt
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) March 7, 2016
On Tuesday, Els posted the video below and added, “Woke up today thinking I dreamt about @RickieFowler making an ace for $1m for @ElsForAutism. Then I watched this…”
Woke up today thinking I dreamt about @RickieFowler making an ace for $1m for @ElsForAutism. Then I watched this… pic.twitter.com/OKelejax8y
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) March 8, 2016
Fowler added a photo on Instagram and wrote, “Epic Monday! One of the coolest moments in my life making a hole in one earning $1,000,000 for @ernieelsgolf #ElsForAutism.”