Spain’s Sergio Garcia became the fourth player this year to record a hole-in-one when he aced the par three, 12th hole during the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Garcia’s 7-iron shot from 193 yards landed just short and to the right of the flag before rolling some four feet into the hole.

The Spaniard was congratulated by playing partners Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood before delving into his bag for a ‘Nutella’ sandwich.

Sergio Garcia all smiles after his first European Tour ace. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

His prize is a three-night stay in the 7-star Emirates Palace once a year for the rest of his life, and this despite the majority of players residing at the hotel this week complimentary.

Surprisingly, it was Garcia’s first hole-in-one in European Tour competition and took him from level par to two under before finishing with a one under par 71.

“I’ve had only one other hole-in-one and that was in St. Louis in the BMW Championship in 2008,” he said.

“Overall I’ve had nine aces in my career but this is only my first on the European Tour.”

A short time later fellow Spaniard Jose Manual Lara aced the very same hole on route to a two under par 70.

“As long as we don’t have to share the same room at the Emirates Palace I will be happy,” joked Garcia.

South African Tjaart Van de Walt had the distinction of the first ace of the New Year when he holed out at the second hole on day two of the Africa Open.

Two weeks ago Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg aced the 13th hole on day one of the Joburg Open and England’s Richard Finch then aced the 12th hole the following day.