The short par-3 17th hole at Royal Liverpool has caused a lot of controversy at the 2023 Open Championship due to the severe challenge it presents. But someone forgot to tell that to Australian pro Travis Smyth, who drained an unlikely hole-in-one on 17 Friday.
But first, a little background. The 17th hole is not just a tough test for players at the Open this week, it’s also a brand-new test. Known as “Little Eye,” the hole played as the 15th at the 2014 Open Championship won by Rory McIlroy. But since then the hole has been reversed, and a new infinity green was built with slopes funneling into treacherous pot bunkers on every side.
Controversial Open Championship hole claims first victim: the leader
It’s extremely short, some 140 yards, but the tricky design has led to a lot of big scores so far, including from the early leader on Thursday.
But that wouldn’t be the case for Smyth.
Arriving at 17 on Friday, Smyth was three over for the round and 10 over for the tournament, well outside of the cutline. With nothing to lose, he pulled a 9-iron and sent a low cutting shot that landed on the green, made one big bounce, landed again right next to the hole and took a short hop into the cup.
Smyth couldn’t see the ball go in himself, so he waited for the crowd’s reaction, then began his celebration.
Check it out below.
Smyth followed that up with a par at 18 to finish the tournament at eight over.
Smyth, who won on the Asian Tour in 2022 and briefly played for LIV Golf, won’t be playing the weekend at Royal Liverpool, but at least he’s authored a moment that he’ll never forget.