Intimidating shot: Fox aces iconic hole and makes history
Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has made history at one of the most famous holes in golf.
In his first appearance at the Players Championship, Fox aced the island green 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass during yesterday’s opening round.
The hole in one came after he eagled the 16th, becoming the first player to go eagle-eagle at the tournament. It was the world No 44’s first ace on the PGA Tour, in his maiden season. The event has a US$25 million ($40.7m) prize pool.
Fox hit his tee shot by the flag on the 124-yard par three and it rolled back into the hole. He raised his arms to a big celebration from the gallery.
Fox became the 14th player to make a hole in one on the 17th during tournament play — it happened three times last year.
“It’s such an iconic hole and it’s an intimidating shot. I don’t care who you are. You get up there, 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 said.
Fox started on the back nine and carded an early birdie at the par-five 11th. But back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th saw him slip to oneover. However, he recovered with a brilliant eagle at the par-five 16th, landing his second from 180 yards out to within two feet of the hole.
That was followed by the ace at the 17th. After two eagles, three bogeys and a birdie across his first nine holes, he finished with eight pars and a birdie.
Fox’s three-under 69 left him in a tie for 21st, four shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark.
McIlroy began the event at Ponte Vedra in Florida with a 65 on his scorecard, two tee shots that went into the water and one lengthy dispute about where to take a penalty drop.
McIlroy ended the day with 10 birdies for his lowest start at TPC Sawgrass but would love to have back the tee shots on the 18th and seventh holes, both of which found water and slowed his momentum on an otherwise superb display of golf.
It was the drop on No 7 that caused so much conversation with Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, and some confusion on where he should drop.
“I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing,” McIlroy said.
“I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right? Because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant.
But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.”
McIlroy was eight-under for the day playing the par-four seventh — his 16th hole of the round — when he pulled his tee shot. The land slopes towards a large pond, meaning the only gallery is on the opposite side of the fairway. Television replays saw the ball bounce but not where.
The question became was it above or below the red hazard line. Had it landed above, McIlroy would take a one-shot penalty and drop it near were it crossed the line into the water. But if it were below the line — closer to the water — he would have had to take his penalty and drop back by the tee box on the 452-yard hole.
McIlroy had already taken his drop when his playing partners had questions. Spieth was heard to say, “We don’t know for sure that it crossed the line.”
“I’m pretty comfortable I saw it above the red line,” McIlroy said.
At one point, it appeared to get testy between Spieth, McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond.
A rules official arrived but was of little use without having seen the shots.
This went on so long that it took some 30 minutes to complete the hole. McIlroy said he was trying to take the drop in the most conservative spot.