At THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Ryan Fox achieved a historic feat, becoming the first golfer to score consecutive eagles in the tournament’s history. During the opening round, he first eagled the par-5 16th, then followed up with a stunning hole-in-one at the iconic island-green, par-3 17th hole, marking the 43rd ace in the hole’s history at TPC Sawgrass.
Fox’s exceptional performance began with a precise 124-yard wedge shot that spun back perfectly after landing 15 feet behind the hole, striking the flagstick squarely and dropping in for the ace. The New Zealander’s achievement was met with elation, as he jubilantly raised his arms and exchanged high-fives with fellow players C.T. Pan and Kevin Streelman.
Fox humorously noted the crowd’s reactions, acknowledging their mixed hopes of a perfect shot or a water hazard. He finished with a 3-under 69, expressing his contentment at being on the favorable side of the crowd’s expectations.
The day was mixed for others. Adam Hadwin’s shot, which fell short into the water, resulted in a double bogey. Tom Kim, battling a high fever, faced a similar disappointment leading to a triple bogey and an eventual withdrawal.
Scott Stallings had a stroke of luck when his ball ricocheted off a bulkhead but remained on the green, allowing him to secure a par and finish with a 2-over 74, close to the projected cut line of 1-under.
Conversely, Sam Ryder experienced a near-miss ace that spun back towards the hole only to roll into the water, resulting in a double bogey. Despite this setback, Ryder finished the day with a birdie, scoring a 2-under 70, just within the projected cut.
The 17th hole proved challenging for many, as play was suspended due to darkness, with six players unable to complete it. The hole ranked as the seventh most difficult on Thursday, with a scoring average of 3.087. It witnessed seven double bogeys and one triple bogey by Tom Kim.
Summarizing the day at the 17th hole:
- Yardage: 124 yards
- Water hazards: 10
- Closest to the pin: Ryan Fox (hole-in-one)
- Hole-in-ones: 1
- Birdies: 23
- Pars: 86
- Bogeys: 20
- Double Bogeys: 7
- Other: 1
- Scoring average: 3.087
