Golf is a game of precision and accuracy, where a single stroke can make all the difference in the world. One of the rarest and most impressive shots in golf is the hole-in-one, where a golfer sinks the ball in the cup in just one stroke. The thrill of getting a hole-in-one is the ultimate dream for every golfer, from everyday amateurs to PGA Tour pros.
The rarity of a hole-in-one is part of what makes the feat so special. There have been a number of memorable hole-in-ones over the years, but some have stood out more than others. In this article from Bovada Sportsbook, we’ll take a look at the 10 best hole-in-ones in the history of golf’s PGA Tour.
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Phil Mickelson – 1995 Players Championship
Lefty was just 24-years-old when he made an incredible hole-in-one at the 1995 Players Championships. It was the 172-yard 13th hole where Mickelson hit a brilliant shot that rolled all the way to the edge of the green in order to use the slope to his advantage. The ball fell into the hole to the crowd’s delight, and helped a young Phil make the cut and earn a T-14 finish.
Peter Jacobsen – 1994 Nissan Los Angeles Open
Sometimes fate just has a way of getting everything to work out. Former tour player Peter Jacobsen learned that for himself at the 1994 Nissan Los Angeles Open. After Jacobsen’s hotel valet had misplaced his car ahead of the third round, the pro golfer made an ace at the 180-yard 14th hole and managed to win a red Nissan 300 ZX convertible right there on the tee box. Jacobsen was quick to celebrate his good fortune, hopping into the driver seat and getting a feel for his new ride.
Brian Harman – 2015 Barclays
While he has yet to win a major championship in his professional golf career, Brian Harman accomplished something at the 2015 Barclays that very few golfers can say they’ve done – he made not one, but two hole-in-ones in the same round! In the third round of this event, Harman aced the 3rd hole with a 7-iron from 184 yards. The American golfer then played 10 more holes before making yet another hole-in-one on the 220-yard 14th hole.
Paul Azinger – 2000 Player’s Championship
Perhaps no hole in golf is more iconic than 17 at TPC Sawgrass. As an island green with major slopes and a huge crowd, all eyes were focused on this famous par-3 during the 2000 Players Championship. Enter Paul Azinger. Never one to shy away from a big moment, Azinger stepped up to the tee and striped a 9-iron from 145 yards. The ball landed, took two quick hops and dropped straight in the cup, leading to a huge ovation from the gallery of this popular golf hole.
James Kingston – 2002 Dunhill Championship
Golf is a fickle game. In this sport, sometimes you’re better off lucky than good. James Kingston of the PGA’s European Tour gave us a perfect example of this at the 2002 Dunhill Championship. The South African golfer yanked his tee shot wide left, only to have his ball hit a tree, bounce onto the green and miraculously into the hole. It may not be Kingston’s proudest moments, but he certainly won’t forget that hole-in-one any time soon!
Fred Couples – 1997 Player’s Championship
There’ve been quite a few hole-in-ones on the 17th island green at TPC Sawgrass, including a clutch ace by golf legend Fred Couples at the 1997 Players Championship. This one was in the tournament’s final round, which makes it that much more impressive since the pin was tucked away at the narrowest point of the green. That hole-in-one allowed Couples to post the lowest score of the day and lock up a top 10 finish at the prestigious event.
Vijay Singh – 2009 Masters (Par 3 Contest)
This one may not be from an actual PGA Tour round, but it’s simply so impressive it just had to be included on our list. The Masters has a fun history of playing a par-3 contest during the week ahead of the major championship. In a golf shot you’ll likely never see again in your life, former tour pro Vijay Singh made headlines in 2009 by purposely skipping his shot several times across the water on the 16th hole of Augusta’s par-3 course and watched as it rolled the length of the green and into the hole.
Tiger Woods – 1997 Waste Management Open
No golf top 10 list would be complete without an entry from the GOAT – Tiger Woods. Tiger’s had several hole-in-ones over the course of his legendary career, but none led to the eruption and celebration as his ace at the 1997 Waste Management Open. The hole-in-one took place at ‘The Stadium Hole’, a par-3 at TPC Scottsdale that is fully enclosed by a 200,000-seat grandstand. As you could imagine, the massive crowd erupted in sheer pandemonium when Tiger’s ball dropped into the cup.
Leif Olson – 2009 RBC Canadian Open
Leif Olson may not be a household name for most fans, but the pro golfer pulled off one of the most bizarre hole-in-ones in history during the 2009 RBC Canadian Open. Playing the 15th hole at the Glen Abbey Golf Course, Olson’s shot landed slightly past the pin and began rolling back down towards the hole. His ball then proceeded to deflect off another player’s ball that was already on the green and ricochet into the cup. It was truly an incredible moment and will be remembered by golf fans around the world.
Jonathan Byrd – 2010 Shriner’s Hospital Open
The top spot on our list goes to Jonathan Byrd, who pulled off what is arguably the most clutch shot in the history of the PGA Tour. Playing in a three-man sudden death playoff to win the 2010 Shriner’s Hospital Open, the golfers agreed to play one more hole before having to stop due to darkness. Byrd then stepped up on the fourth playoff hole with a six-iron and hit the perfect shot. With a hole-in-one in the sudden death playoff, Byrd secured the win and the $774,000 payday!
