Eddie Pepperell invited to make Masters debut

For many, the first week of January is a return to work. For golfers, it’s no different.
European Tour players all across the world are returning to practice ahead of the start of the season in Abu Dhabi in two weeks' time.
One of those returning players is Eddie Pepperell, who returned to London today (Friday) to a welcome from his family and a special piece of mail.
Pepperell is one of a group of elite pro golfers who received an invitation this week to the Masters. Fred Ridley, the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, sends out the letters inviting all 2019 participants to the tournament.
The letter reads “The Board of Governors of the Augusta National Golf Club cordially invites you to participate in the Two Thousand and Nineteen Masters Tournament to be held at Augusta, Georgia the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth of April. Fred S. Ridley, Chairman. RSVP”
Pepperell was handed the letter by his father and brother who met him at London’s Heathrow airport today. The 2019 Masters will be the Englishman’s first appearance at Augusta.
Fellow Tour pros Thorbjorn Olesen and Lucas Bjerregaard also shared their invitations on social media

Pepperell's hole in one voted 2018 Shot of the Year

Eddie Pepperell’s unusual hole-in-one at the Sky Sports British Masters - his second European Tour title - has been voted the 2018 Shot of the Year by fans.

The Englishman produced the highlight of the day with his maiden European Tour ace on the par three ninth hole at Walton Health Golf Club. The 27 year old hit the pin with his tee shot before the ball landed on the green and spun back into the cup to the delight of home crowds.
"This is very cool," Pepperell said. "The British Masters was a massive tournament for me and that shot sparked off the week.
“With the wind, the ninth was a tough hole all week, picking the right club and ball flight was tricky. I hit a really good seven iron and it never left the pin. It obviously got lucky but it nearly went in on the fly. It's one of the craziest aces I think I've seen.
"It's nice to finish the year by winning Shot of the Year. I owe a massive thanks to all the fans who voted."
Over the course of three weeks, Pepperell’s hole-in-one received nearly a quarter of all fan votes, narrowly topping Italian Renato Paratore’s miracle escape on the 72nd hole of the Porsche European Open, and beating out competition from the likes of Justin Thomas, Justin Rose and Russell Knox.
Pepperell joins Joost Luiten, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Jamie Donaldson, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell as the winners of the award since 2010.