TROON, Scotland – Si Woo Kim is having a week at Royal Troon’s par-3 17th hole.
In Round 1, he made a double-bogey 5 at No. 17 after hitting into a bunker off the tee and chipping out sideways before getting up and down. On Friday, he three-putted for a bogey. But his third-round performance on the penultimate hole made up for those early miscues.
Kim hit a “hard 3-iron” at the 238-yard hole that bounced just short of the green and raced into the cup for the longest hole-in-one in recorded history at The Open and the first-ever ace at Troon’s 17th (watch above).
“It was amazing. I had plenty of holes-in-one in my life. Maybe over 10 times, at tournaments like six to eight times, but I think this is the most memorable hole-in-one,” said Kim, who was 2 over for the day before the 17th hole. “I wasn’t happy with [the hole] Thursday. I made double, and I made three-putt again yesterday. Finally, I got the hole-in-one, so I think I like it now.”
Kim finished with an even-par 71 and was tied for 44th when he completed his round.