Major winner aces Pebble 7th — and his hole in one list becomes even wilder

Shane Lowry listens to his resume being read on Golf Channel, and he interjects, sheepishly saying what probably needed to be said. 

“Yeah.”

As in, yeah, earlier Thursday, during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am’s first round, the Irishman had needed just one swing on Pebble’s 7th hole.

And yeah, that followed his ace in 2022 at TPC Sawgrass’ island-green 17th.

And yeah, that came after a one in 2016 at Augusta National’s 16th. 

Three PGA Tour holes in one, on three of the world’s most recognizable par-3s? 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

“Like look, when stuff like that happens, I’ve been very lucky with all the ones,” Lowry said.  “There and Augusta and Sawgrass. Yeah, I don’t know what to say, I guess it’s just luck of the Irish or something, I don’t know. I know I’m pretty good at times, but you know, a bit of luck every now and then is helpful, too.”

It’s rare, too. According to golf stats guru Justin Ray, no one in PGA Tour competition has Lowry’s star-studded ace collection. Ryan Moore, Ray reported, has two of them — the Sawgrass and Augusta holes in one. 

Lowry’s latest came via a wedge. The 2019 Open Championship winner celebrated with his playing partners. He celebrated with caddies. He celebrated with officials. Afterward, for the media on the grounds, he sprung for pizza and beer with Rory McIlroy, who made a hole in one of his own, at Spyglass Hill’s 12th hole.

“Yeah, obviously it’s — it is an easy shot, but you still need to play it correctly,” said Lowry, who finished with a six-under 66, putting him two back of the lead. “I had — it was 106 [yards], but then a couple, and for me, it was a 54 [degree wedge]. I probably could have got lob wedge there, but it was a 54. Try to just like flight one down and chase it up the green and get it up there somewhere close to the hole. 

“It came out lovely just left of the hole, which is where you need to pitch it if you want to get it real close. Yeah, big bounce, it was perfect. It just spun and spun right into the hole. It was pretty cool.”

The hole in one also raised an interesting question: What would enhance Lowry’s list? Maybe Augusta’s 12th? Or TPC Scottsdale’s 16th. There are a few. 

“I was going to say 12 at Augusta,” Lowry said. “but I’m just happy with pars on that hole. Yeah, look, I don’t know. 

“Anytime any one goes in is a good time.”