By Frank Pingue
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 11 (Reuters) – Shane Lowry produced one of the moments of the 2026 Masters on Saturday with a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth during the third round at Augusta National.
Lowry threaded a seven-iron into the 190-yard hole known as Juniper and his ball hit the green, took a couple of bounces and curled into the left side of the cup to send the gathered patrons into raptures.
The Irishman’s reaction was instant and uninhibited — he leaned back, punched both fists skyward and then threw his arms around playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and caddie Darren Reynolds in a joyous embrace.
“You don’t ever expect to make a hole-in-one. I just couldn’t believe it,” said Lowry. “Obviously, you know, you’re out there, and you’re in the hunt at the Masters and you’re making hole-in-one, it’s pretty cool.”
After retrieving his ball from the cup, Lowry milked the moment further, teasing the crowd with a mock throw before pocketing the souvenir with a grin.
The ace moved the 2019 British Open champion to eight-under for the week and vaulted him into in a tie for second place — four shots behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy.
He went on to post a four-under-par 68 that brought him to nine-under on the week, leaving him in fourth place and two shots behind co-leaders McIlroy and Cameron Young.
Lowry is the first player to hit two aces at the Masters, having also carded a hole-in-one at the par-three 16th in 2016.
His latest hole-in-one is the first at the Masters since Stewart Cink’s ace at the 16th in 2022 and the 35th in tournament history.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Peter Rutherford)
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