DP World Tour player banks life insurance policy with HOLE-IN-ONE

Aaron Cockerill got a hole-in-one on the 3rd hole at the Omega European Masters at Crans Montana, earning himself a peculiar but valuable bonus.

Matt Chivers's picture
Fri, 26 Aug 2022
DP World Tour player banks life insurance policy with HOLE-IN-ONE

If you get a hole-in-one on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, you would usually win a shiny new car which is on show behind the tee box.

In the first round of the Omega European Masters at the beautiful Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland, Aaron Cockerill made a hole-in-one on the 3rd hole.

The Canadian, looking to emulate Max Kieffer's performance last week and secure his first win on the DP World Tour, hit a perfect nine-iron on the 170-yard hole. The ball took one bounce before slamming into the bottom of the cup.

Cockerill didn't win a car. He banked a CHF 30,000 life insurance policy from Vaudoise. This is an independent insurance company based in the Suisse romande which was founded in 1895.

Vaudoise first became a sponsor of the Omega European Masters in 2014. Prior to its involvement in the DP World Tour, Vaudoise had held its own National Amateur Competition for 10 years.

"It was 170 yards, with the altitude here it was a nine iron. It landed five short and one hop right into the hole," a delighted Cockerill said, who is also entered in the field for the BMW PGA Championship at the start of September.

"It was awesome, I’ve not had a hole-in-one in a few years. There were a few people on the next tee and we could see it go right in. You don’t want to be long on that green, so it was good that it caught the hole. My future children and my wife will be very happy about the prize."

Despite making a hole-in-one, Cockerill could only manage a score of level-par in the first round of what is one of the most popular stops on the European circuit.

Alejandro Canizares and Thriston Lawrence carded 62s in the first round to take the 18-hole lead, but the second round has been interrupted due to the threat of lightning.