Rory McIlroy hits hole-in-one at 2023 Travelers Championship
Rory McIlroy is coming off a second-place finish at the 2023 U.S. Open. (AP/Frank Franklin II)
Rory McIlroy hit his first career ace on the PGA Tour on Thursday in the first round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.
The hole-in-one came from 214 yards out on the par-3 eighth hole with a five-iron. Up until that shot, McIlroy had been 1-over through seven holes, including back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes due to poor putting.
"Yeah, as hole in ones go, I've had them in the past where it has been like an okay shot and you get a little lucky," McIlroy said. "That was the best shot of the day that I hit.
"Obviously a bonus for it to go in the hole, but it was really cool. I played pretty averagely up until that point. Felt like that hole in one got me going a little bit. Birdied the next couple holes after that and sort of got me into the tournament a bit."
Though it was just his second ace in competition as a professional, and first on the Tour, McIlroy didn't keep the ball. He threw it away to a fan.
"I'm not sentimental. I don't care," he said. "I'd rather have trophies than golf balls."
McIlroy finished with a 2-under 68. While that was better than what he was on pace for before the ace, he still ended the day well behind leader Denny McCarthy — who carded a 10-under 60.
McIlroy entered this week's tournament on the heels of a second-place finish at the 2023 U.S. Open in Los Angeles. He finished one shot behind first-time major winner Wyndham Clark. Although that was his best finish at that tournament since his win there in 2011, McIlroy hasn't won a major since 2014, when he took home the PGA Championship and the British Open. McIlroy has finished in the top 20 in all of his four career appearances at Travelers. He's never finished better than tied for 11th, though.
McIlroy has one win on Tour this season, back at The CJ Cup in October, which marked his 23rd career win. He has seven top-10 finishes so far, including in his last four starts. He entered this week at No. 3 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
