Laurent Hurtubise may be an amateur, but he hit the shot of the day at The American Express. Hurtubise, who was born with one arm, made a hole-in-one on the 151-yard fourth hole of PGA West’s Stadium Course. Amateurs compete alongside the pros in a pro-am competition at The American Express. Hurtubise has played in the event multiple times, also holing a shot from 60 yards in 2018. Hurtbutise was playing with Troy Merritt, who called it “The coolest experience I’ve had on the golf course.” Hurtubise’s right arm ends just below his elbow, but he quickly found sports were a way for him to fit in with other kids. “As a kid, sports was a way for me to prove that even though I had a difference that I could perform as well as normal people … as they call them,” Hurtubise told the Desert Sun. “People have differences and handicaps and whatever, but it was my way to prove that I could be as good as everybody else.” He played hockey and baseball, but golf became his favorite sport when he turned 11. He takes a full, one-handed lefty swing that can produce drives of about 230 yards. He also uses golf to inspire amputees or others without both arms. He’s talked to kids and parents at a Shriners hospital near his home in Montreal about overcoming a disability. “It does feel fulfilling when someone tells me they’ve been inspired to play a sport because of me,â€� he told the Desert Sun.
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