Ryan Fox from New Zealand has joined the pool of extraordinary athletes by hitting the rare hole.
Fox has been quiet at the beginning of the TPC Sawgrass season. However, he had gone through a one-over by opening six holes for his first round at the fifth major, eventually followed by an eagle with an ace at the iconic par-three 17th hole of the Stadium Course.
He achieved his first-ever hole-in-one on the PGA Tour and also became the first golfer to be recognized for having an impeccable tee shot for this year’s competition.
“It’s such an iconic hole, and to have that many people there to witness it is pretty cool…You get up there and most of the crowd probably either wants you to make a one or hit it in the water, so I’m glad to be on the right side of it in that respect,” Fox stated.
Back-to-back eagles in any two holes
More so, Fox became the very first player who achieved back-to-back eagles on any two holes in the tournament. He made a remarkable approach at the par-five 16th hole that was just 180 yards within the feet of the cup.
In recent competitions, only three from over 7,400 tee shots between 2000 and 2016, and none between 2003 and 2025 have been accomplished. Currently, there have been eight aces in the hole across the previous nine editions of the event.
Golfers like Scottie Scheffler made a five-stroke triumph last year. Hayden Buckley, Aaron Rai, and Alex Smalley also recorded tying three aces in the previous years.
The exceptional American skier, aged just 29, clinched her remarkable 97th World Cup victory, further embellishing her already illustrious career.
Securing the slalom title for the eighth consecutive season, Shiffrin displayed her prowess by overcoming a second-place standing after the initial run, ultimately claiming her 60th slalom skiing triumph.
Fans remain captivated by her unparalleled achievements on the slopes, as her steadfast dedication and unmatched talent solidify her status as one of the sport’s foremost champions.
Reflecting on her performance, Shiffrin remarked, “It’s been quite a season, so I’m thrilled to conclude it on such a positive note,” as reported by BBC news.
Shiffrin said; “It’s been a wild season so I’m really happy to be here and see the final race of the season go well.”
The Shiffrin effect
Following a setback on January 26 due to a knee injury, Shiffrin made a triumphant return in Are, Sweden, claiming the slalom title last week. Her journey from adversity to victory showcased both her exceptional skill on the snow and her resilience.
Shiffrin’s remarkable performance has not only impressed fans worldwide but also served as a source of inspiration. Reflecting on her achievements, she stated, “It’s a bit overwhelming to grasp the records. They fill me with energy and vitality – I’m trying to savor every moment.”
Continuing, she added, “I’ve never been fixated on numbers, but now I embrace them. It’s not pressure; it’s an honor.”
At the Japan Classic, Rio Takeda won against American Marina Alex in a six-hole sudden-death play-off to secure her first LPGA tour title.
Due to the unexpected weather on the day of the competition, the play was shortened to 54 regulation holes. The 21-year-old athlete forced a play-off by birdieing the 18th hole, leaving them at 15 under.
The first play-off hole was birdied by both players, and they both found par on the following four holes. However, on the par-five 18th hole, Takeda made a birdie to seal her win and defeat Alex, who could only manage par.
Takeda has earned a tour card as a result of the play-off victory, which was one of the longest in LPGA history. With this, the athlete said: “I was planning to take Q School in December and now I can skip that and go and play next year on the LPGA tour, which is exciting for me now.”
In a social media post, Takeda also stated (translated): “It’s been a long time until the playoffs, but I think we won the championship thanks to everyone who supported us until the end 😆”
At Pinehurst No. 2, Bryson DeChambeau emerged victorious from the US Open for the second time, extending Rory Mcllroy’s agonizing ten-year wait for a fifth major championship by at least one more round.
One of just twelve players from the rebel LIV Golf series in the 156-player field, the 30-year-old American frittered away a three-shot overnight lead before mounting a dramatic comeback from two strokes behind. He held his composure in a match of intense psychological competition that left McIlroy regretting a string of unforced errors in the closing minutes.
Over the final three holes, McIlroy missed two easy putts from inside three feet, including one from 26 inches for par on the 72nd, which left DeChambeau with just a four-stroke requirement to win the championship.
With his win, DeChambeau declared: “I still can’t believe that up-and-down… Probably the best shot of my life.”
In the history of the US Open, he became the fifth player, aged 30 or under, to win the tournament multiple times. He now stands with Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, and Brooks Koepka as members of these elite athletes.
Highlights of the game
Despite early misfortune and several poor breaks, DeChambeau recovered to save pars from drives that found a fairway divot on the first and a bunker on the second. After a bogey on the fourth, his advantage dropped to one, but McIlroy immediately regained the lead when, in the aftermath of what seemed to be a highlight-reel approach wedge shot that trailed all the way down the hill and into the native sandy region, he was fortunate to save bogey.
The clouds that provided cover from the 90F (32C) temperatures broke by the time McIlroy made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 9th hole, moving him into sole possession of second place at five under and one shot behind DeChambeau’s lead. The leaders continued playing despite the changes in weather conditions.
On the 10th hole, McIlroy eventually tied the score when DeChambeau curled in his biggest putt of the week from 27 feet for a second consecutive birdie, sending the crowd around the green into a commotion. With a well-placed pitch near following a mishit fairway shot and a birdie putt, DeChambeau surged ahead on the tenth hole, On the 11th green, McIlroy lined up a birdie putt and heard the applause from behind him. However, he missed by inches and was still one stroke behind the leader.
Shortly after DeChambeau made a stunning par save on the 11th hole, McIlroy made another difficult putt to reach seven-under and reclaim the lead on the 12th. Mcllroy struck a shot off the 13th tee that sailed into the pine straw to the right of the fairway. On number 13, DeChambeau came dangerously close to missing an eagle putt while taking his time clearing a drive into the natural area. He then cleared for birdie to go within striking distance of the lead. The leaders were tied at seven under par when McIlroy made a stroke on the 16th hole.
On the 72nd hole, McIlroy chipped and ran to within three feet after hitting a driver into the bushes. After that, he had to make a putt from 26 inches to maintain his lead, but he missed two more during the final three holes, thus giving the title to DeChambeau, who had to make a par from a debatable lie to win it all. DeChambeau hit it four yards from the pin.
The entire match was thrilling. At the end, DeChambeau remarked: “Rory is one of the best to ever play. Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special… For him to miss that putt, I’d never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way.”
Just last week, in Southern California, Nelly Korda proved she was resilient with a spectacular performance. Now that the weather is great and the course is kind, the current world number one golfer has set herself up for an incredible third straight win.
She’s within striking distance at the Ford Championship after an outstanding first-round performance of 6-under 66 on Thursday, trailing by only three strokes. If Korda wins, she would go down in history as the first player on the LPGA Tour to win three straight titles—a feat not seen by many in the past eight years.
“Completely different today compared to last weekend,” usnews quoted Korda as saying. “The greens have a lot of give.” I am aware that Arizona has experienced a significant amount of precipitation this winter. I had to be aggressive because I knew there would be people with poor scores.
Korda two-putt birdie
The top-ranked golfer, Korda, started strong, making four birdies in five holes before finishing strong with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th.
To become the first player on the LPGA Tour to win three straight tournaments since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016, Korda started his quest with a win at the Drive On Championship in Bradenton, Florida, near her birthplace.
She showed no symptoms of rust, regaining the top spot in the world last week and emerging as a formidable competitor despite missing the LPGA Tour’s Asian swing.
On the other hand, players in the inaugural event at Seville Golf and Country Club were welcomed with immaculate conditions, ideal for scoring after the strong winds had swept the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship just a week earlier north of Los Angeles.
Pajaree Anannarukan took advantage of the situation, putting on a faultless display that included an astounding 9-under 63, her first hole of the round coming up on the back nine of the 6,734-yard course tucked away in a suburban area of Phoenix. Anannarukan handled the situation expertly, taking a slim one-shot lead over a strong group that included former Arizona State standouts Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda, Lilia Vu, Gabriela Ruffels, and Isa Gabsa.
In preparation for defending his US PGA Championship title, American Brooks Koepka won the LIV Singapore event. Koepka finished on 15 under, two strokes ahead of Australia’s Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith, after scoring a final-round 68 at three under par.
Koepka said. “It’s all starting to come around. I’ve put in a lot of work and I like the way things are trending… I just need to go back next week and make sure everything continues, do the right stuff and go from there.”
To become the first golfer to win four titles in the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf League, Koepka led by three shots into the final round. He finished with four birdies and one bogey.
Koepka’s consistency
After the successes of his plays, he admitted, “I just played very consistently and happy with the way I played all week… I made a couple of clutch putts today and the ball-striking was solid. I didn’t really think I made too many mistakes. And that’s a great feeling when it kind of feels easy.”
Tyrrell Hatton of England shot 66 to finish at 11 under, while Jon Rahm of Spain was two strokes behind with a 67 to finish at nine under. Adrian Otaegui of Spain also prevailed in the China Open on the DP World Tour due to an outstanding 65-stroke final round.
Additionally, Otaegui recorded seven birdies to set a clubhouse target of eighteen under par. He began the final round five strokes behind leader Sebastian Soderberg.
It proved to be sufficient for victory as Soderberg, who went to the 18th level alongside Otaegui only to hit a double bogey, finished on 16 under, while Guido Migliozzi finished second on 17 under. Paul Waring of England also shot a final-round 69 to tie for 16 under.
