England golfer Andy Sullivan said he is prepared to go into outer space after earning the prize of a flight to 330.000 feet above the earth with a hole-in-one during the final round of the KLM Open.
Sullivan’s hole-in-one came at the 163-yard 15th hole at Kennemer Golf Club to earn the prize on route to being placed third behind fellow Englishman Paul Casey.
The bizarre $100,000 prize of a flight aboard the XCOR spaceship had created enormous interest all week at Zandvoort and with Sullivan excited at the prospect of becoming the first-ever professional golfer to leave the earth and bound for outer space.
And being a new father, Sullivan was asked what his young son may now think of his father.
“He’s going to think I am the best dad in the world being a professional golfer and now being a spaceman, as well so it can’t get any better than that,” said Sullivan.
“I am going to have to pluck up some serious courage but I am thinking I am going to have to do it, as it’s a one in a lifetime opportunity.
“My caddy just shouted we are going into space, so he was outer space here. It’s just an unreal experience as I played great all the way through the round and then to hit a shot like that is unbelievable.
“I’ve had two 2s on the hole but the prize never really crossed my mind and when I hit the tee shot today I thought it might go close and then there was this huge roar when it went in.”
However the former Walker Cup star did remark: “I’ll see what the missus says.”
XCOR, who have previously promoted the prize of a trip into space by way of a raffle, expect to launch their first flight later in 2015.