Si Woo Kim has had a challenging week at Royal Troon, but he made history by hitting the first hole-in-one of this year’s British Open in Scotland. The ace came on the long par-3 17th hole, with Kim’s tee shot landing just short of the green and rolling in perfectly. Despite not being able to see the ball fall, Kim celebrated the feat at the tee, calling it the best golf shot he’s ever had.
“I was not doing very well and then I was feeling terrible for my shot the last couple days,” Kim said. “Then finally I got the best golf shot I’ve ever had this week. That goes in, and that makes me more special, especially at the major and the Open here.”
This hole-in-one on the 17th hole marked a historic moment as the first ever at a British Open. It was also the longest ace in recorded British Open history at 238 yards, according to the Golf Channel’s Justin Ray.
Kim, a four-time PGA Tour winner, is currently ranked 48th in the Official World Golf Rankings. While he has had a consistent season with only one missed cut in 20 starts, he has struggled to secure top-10 finishes.
Despite the impressive ace bringing him back to even par for the day, Kim remains at 5-over for the tournament, putting him out of contention for the title. He expressed his excitement for the memorable moment, stating that while he has had multiple holes-in-one in his life, this one stands out as the most special.