The PGA Championship kicked off with a bang as Eric Cole scored the first ace of the tournament. His perfect tee shot at the 184-yard par 3 fourth hole on Thursday afternoon at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina sent the crowd into a frenzy. The ball bounced four times on the green before rolling straight into the cup, igniting a celebration at the tee box.
This was Cole’s second hole-in-one on Tour, but his first in an individual event. His previous ace came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2024 while playing alongside Russ Cochran in a team event.
Despite a rocky start on the back nine with a bogey and a double, Cole’s ace brought him back to even par for the day. He then managed to card one more birdie to finish at 1-under.
Although he has yet to secure a win on the PGA Tour, Cole has shown promise with two top-10 finishes this season, including a T5 at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson. This marks only his third appearance at a PGA Championship, having missed the cut last season in Louisville.
Meanwhile, Tyler Collet came close to matching Cole’s feat earlier in the day, narrowly missing an ace at the 13th hole. Despite his near-miss, Collet has made his fourth PGA Championship appearance without making the cut so far in his career.
While Cole and Collet showcased their skills with impressive shots, they still trailed behind Cam Davis and Ryan Gerard, who shared the early lead at 5-under.