Our 10 Favourite Golf Shots in 2017

OK, who has post-Masters withdrawal symptoms?

Now that the greatest spectacle in the global game is over, and with the US Open at Erin Hills two months away yet, it would be easy to see the current offerings on Tour as rather more underwhelming.

If you are feeling that way, even slightly, then let us help you shake it off with some beautiful golf shots from this year to date.

Check out what we have gathered together as our ten favourite golf shots in 2017 so far.

Rory McIlroy (BMW SA Open)

Though he has endured a rather truncated year to date due to a troublesome rib injury, there are a few Rory McIlroy shots that were in consideration for our list.

We particularly liked his 157-yard approach shot on the 7th hole at the South African Open during Saturday’s play. It fired past the flag and used the contours of the green to track down to the hole for an eagle two. It really was a shot of the highest quality. Rory's shot is number '2' in this video:

Andy Sullivan (Commercial Bank Qatar Masters)

A fabulous flop shot from Andy when he found himself just off the green at the Qatar Masters is next on our list. Faced with few options the Englishman needed to play a little ‘parachute shot’ and have it come down as softly as possible if he wasn’t to finish 15 feet (or more) away.

He played it to perfection and managed to hole-out. Just awesome.

Shot '5' in this January compilation:

Jaco van Zyl (BMW SA Open)

Jaco managed to ace the 17th hole during the second round of the BMW South African Open on his way to a T-18 finish. After an opening round 71 the South African native was putting together a solid front nine on Friday when he arrived on the par 3 17th tee.

The shot looked all over the flag from the minute it left the clubface and duly tracked its way into the cup. A hole in one is always nice – the BMW i8 prize was a stunning bonus.

Unsurprisingly, and perhaps fittingly, it's the number '1' shot in this video:

Justin Thomas (WCG-Mexico)

Standing on the 13th hole during his third round in Mexico City, Thomas hit a stunning six-iron tee shot to the 232-yard par 3. It looked dialled in from early on and hit the middle of the green before pounding into the centre of the cup for Thomas’ second ace in his short professional career to date.

Louis Oosthuizen (World Super 6 Perth)

Despite initial cynicism the World Super 6 Perth won many fans over to the idea of a combined stroke-play/match-play format. Louis Oosthuizen was undoubtedly its star attraction and he entertained all in attendance by holing his approach shot on the par 4 13th hole.

Matt Kuchar (2017 Masters)

If anyone was going to ace the 16th at Augusta National we aren’t sure whether there would have been any more popular candidates than Matt Kuchar.

While many eyes were fixed on the ongoing tussle between Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose a few holes back, Kuchar made sure that Masters Sunday didn’t pass without a raucous rendition of ‘KKKUUUUUUUCCCCCCHHHHH’.

Jon Rahm (Farmers Insurance Open)

It’s impossible not to have this one on our list. Winning your first professional tournament is always going to be a big deal, but when you get the job done by draining a 60-foot eagle putt to capture the lead on the 72nd hole – well, it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Jon Rahm managed this very feat at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January.

Russell Henley (Masters 2017)

A slam dunk approach shot is always fun to watch. When Russell stood over his second to the 5th hole of his final round at Augusta National no player had managed to record an eagle since back in 2003.

The ball cannoned into the hole with such ferocity that it was damaged and the greenkeepers had to very quickly re-cut it.

Hideto Tanihara (WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay)

Having been denied a place in the final by the eventual winner Dustin Johnson, many would have thought that Tanihara would merely coast to a finish in his third-placed match against the American Bill Haas. Not a bit of it.

Hitting a mere 8-iron from all of 207 yards he narrowly carried the bunker and had the perfect line to see his ball trail down to the hole for a breathtaking ace and undoubtedly one of the best shots of 2017.

Jhonattan Vegas (Honda Classic)

Vegas elected to use a 6-iron on the opening hole of the infamous ‘Bear Trap’- the 179-yard 15th hole. With the Venezuelan having landed his tee shot a mere 6 feet from the pin, the ball then arrowed into the hole for a glorious hole in one.

Given that there are many shots we couldn’t squeeze into the list of our favourite ten, what have we missed? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.