Rory McIlroy made headlines at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, achieving a remarkable hole-in-one during the tournament's opening round held on January 29, 2025. The stellar shot came from the elevated tee of the par-three 15th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, where the 35-year-old Northern Irish golfer used his sand wedge to ace the hole.
This achievement was particularly special for McIlroy, marking his second career hole-in-one, his first having occurred at the 2023 Travelers Championship. With this delightful turn of events, McIlroy finished the day with a score of 66, placing him just two strokes behind the leader, Russell Henley, who shot eight-under-par 64.
McIlroy reflected on the experience, sharing his thoughts on the challenge posed by the elevated tee. "It’s such an elevated tee, the ball’s in the air and you know it’s on line but you don’t know whether to say, ‘Go!’ or ‘Sit!’ or ‘Spin,’ or ‘Release,’" he explained. The anxiety of waiting for the ball to drop proved worth it, as he later added, "It was a good swing, a good wedge shot and it was obviously a nice little moment."
Not only was McIlroy's hole-in-one remarkable, but he wasn't alone as another ace lit up the day. Irishman Shane Lowry also landed one on the legendary par-three seventh hole at Pebble Beach. His moment was equally triumphant, with the ball landing short of the pin before rolling smoothly to the cup. Taking to social media, Lowry dubbed the shot the "shot of my dreams," reinforcing the day's excitement.
The competitive spirit was evident as Russell Henley climbed to the top of the leaderboard. Henley nailed birdies on his final two holes, pushing him to finish the day one stroke clear of the pack, which included the well-known England golfer Justin Rose. At the close of the first round, the leaderboard was tightly contested, indicating the thrilling nature of the tournament.
This edition of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is notable not only for the impressive play from McIlroy and Lowry but also for the return of Scottie Scheffler. After missing over a month due to injuries sustained from a freak kitchen accident during Christmas, Scheffler managed to card 67 at Spyglass Hill, sharing 15th place as he made his comeback.
The tournament as it stands promises more high-stakes golfing excitement, with tight scores and notable players all vying for victory. McIlroy has positioned himself favorably after his opening round and will be aiming to close the gap on Henley, both competitors showcasing their extraordinary talent on one of golf's most revered courses.
With the second round on the horizon, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the competition will evolve and whether McIlroy can capitalize on his strong start, and if Henley can maintain his lead amid fierce challenges from other big names, including Lowry and Scheffler.