Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Golfers hailing from the Emerald Isle had themselves a day during the first round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, as Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were both able to knock a couple of strokes off of their score with a hole-in-one. Tradition dictates you buy some beers after making an ace, and the two golfers did what they could to uphold it by hooking up members of the media at the tournament.
Rory McIlroy didn’t get his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour until checking that box at the Travelers Championship in 2023, and he hadn’t been able to replicate that feat heading into the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
However, that was no longer the case after the Northern Irishman stepped up to the 119-yard 15th hole and got the second one of his professional career in emphatic fashion after dunking the ace that dropped him to -3 on the day.
That knotted him up with Shane Lowry, who had a pretty impressive hole-in-one résumé when you consider the two aces he’s made as a pro came on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in 2022 and the 16th at Augusta National during The Masters in 2016.
On Thursday, the Irishman (who started his round on the back nine) had the chance to add another iconic hole to that collection when he stepped up to the 7th tee at Pebble Beach before regaining his lead over McIlroy with a shot that bounced a few yards short of the flagstick before rolling into the cup to bring him to -6 (both men finished the first round at that number and headed into Friday tied for 8th).
Most people who play golf know you’re expected to open up your wallet and buy a round of drinks in the clubhouse after making a hole-in-one (while it should probably be the other way around, that tradition is widely viewed as a way to keep people honest).
McIlroy and Lowry went out of their way to hold up that end of the bargain, as reporters who headed to the media center on Thursday evening were greeted with a bin of ice filled with Budweiser, Bud Light, Amstel Light, and Guinness courtesy of the two golfers.
Can confirm pic.twitter.com/fM5TPv8GZM
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) January 30, 2025
Classy move.