Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both thrilled the crowd with hole-in-ones during the opening round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
McIlroy, beginning his round at Spyglass Hill’s back nine, made the second ace of his PGA Tour career on the par-three 15th.
Later in the day, Shane Lowry mirrored McIlroy’s feat, making a hole-in-one of his own on the famed seventh hole at Pebble Beach.
The first two rounds of the event are played across both Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill courses.
By the end of the first round, both players had carded six-under-par 66s, tying for eighth and sitting just two strokes behind the leader, Russell Henley of the United States.
McIlroy’s tee shot on the 119-yard hole flew straight into the flagstick and dropped into the hole without touching the green.
He shared the celebration with his playing partner Ludvig Åberg, along with amateurs Jeff Rhodes, Jimmy Dunne, and the caddies.
McIlroy’s previous hole-in-one on Tour came at the 2023 Travelers Championship.
Lowry, on the other hand, marked his third career ace on the PGA Tour.
His shot on the seventh rolled into the hole, and in disbelief, he leaped into the air. His other two aces were at the 2016 Masters and the 2022 Players Championship.
Russell Henley, who ended the round with a one-shot lead, will carry that advantage into Friday, with Justin Rose and a group of five others hot on his heels.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, making his return after undergoing surgery for a hand injury sustained on Christmas Day, carded a solid five-under 67.
He sits just three shots off the lead as he looks to make up ground over the next two rounds.
As the tournament progresses, with more stunning shots and surprises expected, the first round has already set the stage for what promises to be an exciting weekend at Pebble Beach.
McIlroy and Lowry’s aces are a reminder of the magic that can unfold on golf’s biggest stages.
