only par 4 hole in one pga tour

The Amazing Story of the Only Par-4 Hole-in-One in PGA Tour History

Plus More Par-4 Aces on the Other Pro Tours

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In the history of the PGA Tour , there has been only one hole-in-one to date on a par-4 hole. It happened at TPC Scottsdale, home of the Phoenix Open (then called the FBR Open). And it happened in an amazing way.

We'll tell that story, plus list some of the other par-4 aces in professional golf. That includes the perhaps even-more-amazing story of back-to-back aces that included a par-4 hole-in-one.

Andrew Magee Made PGA Tour's Only Par-4 Ace So Far

The only hole-in-one on a par-4 hole so far in PGA Tour history? The hole was No. 17 at TPC Scottsdale, the year was 2001, the tournament was the Phoenix Open and the golfer was Andrew Magee. But the circumstances were anything but normal.

Magee, just an average driver of the ball, didn't think he'd be able to reach the green on the hole, which that day measured 332 yards from tee to green. So he didn't wait for the group ahead to clear the green. Instead, he teed up, and, steaming over a double bogey one hole earlier, muscled up. He let loose with the driver, and his golf ball went farther than he expected.

The ball went so far that it ran up onto the green while the group of Steve Pate, Gary Nicklaus (yes, Jack Nicklaus ' son) and Tom Byrum were still putting. Magee's ball bounded onto the green and caught Pate by surprise, who jumped out of the way and warned Nicklaus a golf ball was coming. But Byrum was squatting down studying the line of his putt and failed to notice.

Magee's ball ran between Byrum's feet and struck Byrum's putter. The ball ricocheted off Byrum's putter, caromed about eight feet, and dropped right into the cup. Hole-in-one. Ace . And still the only par-4 ace on the PGA Tour, and surely one of the more unusual aces of any kind in tour history.

The incident also produced a fantastic quip from Nicklaus' caddie, Rusty Uresti, who said afterward, "It was the first putt Tom (Byrum) made all day."

Alas, no video exists of Magee's par-4 hole-in-one hitting Byrum's putter or dropping into the cup.

A couple other golfers have come very close to a par-4 ace on the PGA Tour:

• In 2013, Jason Kokrak aced a 409-yard, par-4 hole at the PGA Tour's McGladrey Classic —but not in the tournament itself, rather in the pro-am that preceded the tournament.
• At the 2015 Valero Texas Open , Aaron Baddeley did hole-out with driver from the tee on the par-4 17th hole. Ace, right? No! It was Baddeley's second drive on the hole. He hit his first one out of bounds. So that hole-out with the second drive gave him a score of 3 on the hole.

The First LPGA Tour Par-4 Hole-in-One

The first par-4 ace in LPGA history happened in 2016. At the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, the eighth hole typically played 310 yards. But tournament organizers moved the tees way up one day so golfers could fire at the par-4 green. And they did, given that the hole played only 218 yards. And Ha Na Jang rolled her drive into the cup.

It took around 65 years for the first LPGA par-4 ace, but only a couple months for the second. Two months later, at the 2016 Kia Classic, Minjee Lee aced the 276-yard par-4 16th hole.

Other Tours' First Par-4 Holes-in-One (And a Bonus Ace)

• The first par-4 ace on the Japan Tour happened in 1978. Tommy Nakajima holed-out his drive on the 341-yard, No. 1 hole in The Crowns tournament during the second round.
• The first on the Web.com Tour was Chip Beck's in the 2003 Omaha Classic, on the 315-yard No. 9 hole during the first round.
• The first on the European Tour was Javier Colomo's on the 329-yard No. 9 hole during the 2015 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
• The first on the European Senior Tour was Guillermo Encina's in the 2003 Tunisian Seniors Open, on the 354-yard, No. 11 hole during the second round.

There has not yet been a par-4 hole-in-one on the Champions Tour.

Here's a bonus one worth mentioning: At the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, Sammy Schmitz aced the 290-yard, par-4 33rd hole to go dormie in the championship match. When he won it a hole later, it earned him a place in The Masters .

That Time a Tour Player Made Back-to-Back Aces—One of Them on Par-4

We said that the top that we'd share a story that is perhaps even more amazing's than Magee's PGA Tour par-4 hole-in-one.

That's because this story is about a tour golfer who made back-to-back aces on a consecutive holes, one of which was a par-4!

It was 1971 and the event happened on the precursor to the European Tour (which was founded a year later in 1972). The tournament was the Martini International, an event that existed from 1961-83 and was part of the European Tour from the beginning in 1972. Its winners included Peter Thomson , Christy O'Connor Sr., Peter Alliss , Greg Norman , Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo . It was legit, in other words.

The golfer was John Hudson, a journeyman English player who spent parts of several years on the Euro Tour and later played the European Senior Tour for several seasons.

So: John Hudson is playing the 1971 Martini International. It's the second round and Hudson reaches the 12th hole at Royal Norwich Golf Club in Norwich, England. It's a par-3, 195 yards. He chooses his 4-iron. And boom—hole-in-one.

Hudson proceeds to the next hole, the 13th, where he takes out driver because it's a par-4 (311 yards, downhill from an elevated tee box ). And boom—that one rolls into the hole, too! Back-to-back aces, including one on a par-4. Amazing. I imagine Hudson felt both shaken and stirred.

Hudson's feat remains the only known instance of back-to-back aces by the same golfer in the same round in a tournament on one of the world's significant professional tours.

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PGA Tour Canada sees golfer go full Happy Gilmore with incredible Hole in 1 on a par-4

Davis Shore, a PGA Tour Canadian golfer, made an unbelievable ace on a par-4 during his round on Friday.

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Davis Shore channeled his inner Happy Gilmore on Friday.

The former Alabama golfer plays on PGA Tour Canada and Lationamerica. During his round on Friday at the Windsor Championship, he made an ace on the 290-yard par-4 15th hole.

While there wasn’t a video of the shot, the PGA Tour Canada team got a video of him picking up the ball out of the hole. He was very calm about the whole thing. Shore shook the flag stick a little and scooped up the ball.

The Knoxville, TN native seemed shocked it went into the hole and celebrated very little. Shore seemed pleased to add a one to the scorecard after making two double bogeys in the last three holes. He appeared ready to get to the next hole and get back under par.

HOLE IN ONE ON A PAR 4 @TheRealD_Shore aces the 290 yard par 4, 15th hole at Ambassador Golf Club pic.twitter.com/6bU3Sa2jhy — PGA TOUR Canada - Fortinet Cup (@PGATOURCanada) August 4, 2023

Shore is coming off a win last week at the Osprey Valley Open. While he won’t repeat this week, that ace will be a story he can tell for years to come.

The idea of hitting a hole in one on a par-4 is an anomaly. It’s more likely associated with the film Happy Gilmore. In the landmark 1996 film, Adam Sandler, who plays a hockey player turned golfer, consistently hits 400-yard drives, easily reaching the green on par-4’s with a hole in one to his credit.

The 24-year-old Shore has had his fair share of adversities. He missed nearly an entire season in college due to a torn hip labrum and fracture in his L3 vertebrae.

Shore turned pro in 2021. He has played in 13 events between the Canadian and Latin American tours this year, making 10 cuts. He has one win, one runner-up, four top 10s and six top 25s this season.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and on Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.

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LIST: Every recorded par-4 hole-in-one on a major golf tour

In the history of professional golf, there have been eight par-4 holes-in-one during competition on major golf tours.

The first came on the PGA Tour in 2001, when Andrew Magee made the only par-4 ace to date in PGA Tour history on the 17th hole at TPC Scottsdale in the first round of the Phoenix Open.

Since then, seven more par-4 aces have been made, with four on the Web.com Tour, two on the LPGA Tour, one on the European Tour. Others have been recorded in pro-ams on major tours ( Richard Green at 2015 Oates Vic Open , Jason Kokrak at 2013 RSM Classic ) but aren't on this list.

Not every ace has been recorded on video, but most have.

Par-4 holes-in-one on major golf tours

• Andrew Magee, PGA Tour, 2001 Phoenix Open, 332 yards, 17th hole at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. in first round, driver
• Chip Beck, Web.com Tour, 2003 Omaha Classic, 315 yards, 9th hole at Champions Run in Omaha, Neb. in first round, driver
• Richard Johnson, Web.com Tour, 2009 Michael Hill New Zealand Open, 347 yards, 15th hole at The Hills Golf Club in Queenstown, New Zealand, in final round, driver
• Rahil Gangjee, Web.com Tour, 2011 Mylan Classic, 316 yards, 15th hole at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg, Penn., in final round, driver
• Rob Oppenheim, Web.com Tour, 2012 Web.com Tour Championship, 330 yards, 14th hole at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, in final round, driver
• Javier Colomo, European Tour, 2015 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open , 334 yards, 9th hole at Heritage Golf Club in second round, driver
• Hana Jang, LPGA Tour, 2016 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic , 217 yards, 8th hole at Ocean Club Golf Course, Bahamas in third round, 3-wood
• Minjee Lee, LPGA Tour, 2016 Kia Classic, 234 yards, 16th hole at Aviara Golf Club, City of Industry, Calif. in third round, 3-wood

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Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

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Pro Makes Hole-In-One On Par 4 In PGA Tour Monday Qualifier

Aldrich Potgieter achieved the feat on the 345-yard par 4 while attempting to qualify for the John Deere Classic

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Young South African golfer, Aldrich Potgieter , achieved a rare golfing feat after he made a hole-in-one on a 345-yard par 4.

Potgieter achieved the feat while competing at the Monday qualifier for the John Deere Classic which takes place on the PGA Tour this week.

Standing on the 17th hole at Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Illinois, the big-hitting 18-year-old smashed his driver over the dogleg-right and, initially, thought nothing of it. It was only as his caddie celebrated from the fairway that he began to realise what he had accomplished, as he explained afterwards.

"That was really exciting, and it was kind of a weird moment,” Potgieter said.

"I didn't see it go in, so I didn't know. It was kind of a blind tee shot, but when I saw my caddie run out to the fairway and was pumping up his arms and going wild, I thought it was probably like a foot or two.

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"And he said no, it was in the hole. So it wasn't like a hole-in-one you see on a par 3 and you go wild with the crowd. It was kind of a quiet moment to yourself where you're like, 'I still can't believe that happened.'"

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A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) A photo posted by on

There remains only one hole-in-one on a par 4 recorded in PGA Tour history when Andrew Magee holed out on the 17th hole at the 2001 Phoenix Open.

Unfortunately, for the young professional, despite the albatross coming in a five-hole stretch where he made a 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, his six-under-par score wasn't enough to make it through Monday qualifying, with the South African falling one shot short of the John Deere Classic on Thursday.

Regardless, it is clear that Potgieter, who last year became the second youngest winner of the Amateur Championship with victory at Royal Lytham and St Annes, has a bright future in the sport. 

Dude made a 1-2-3-4-5 in a five hole stretch. And the one was on a 403- yard par 4. pic.twitter.com/G4f9sIGnua July 3, 2023

Last month at the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club , the South African made the cut, finishing 64th after a final round 79.

The South African's driving ability was also on display at LACC, as he topped the driving distance standings for the tournament. Potgieter averaged a mammoth 336 yards off the tee, putting him more than 10 yards clear of fellow big-hitter Bryson DeChambeau and four yards clear of Min Woo Lee, who was second with an average of 332 yards.

Following his performance at the US Open, the South African turned professional. He recently missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic after shooting +2 in his first two rounds.

Ben joined Golf Monthly having completed his NCTJ in multimedia sports journalism at News Associates, London. He is now a freelance journalist who also works for The Independent, Metro, UEFA and Stats Perform.

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Viktor Hovland’s par-4 ‘hole-in-one’ wasn’t what it looked like

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Viktor Hovland tosses his ball into the crowd at Marco Simone after making a second-ball birdie on the par-4 5th.

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ROME — It’s hard to know sometimes, when you’re at massive golf tournaments, where exactly the roar is coming from, and what exactly that roar means. But the roar we heard mid-day at Marco Simone felt pretty obvious. Someone had clearly made a hole-in-one. 

The roar grew from nothing, which happens a lot in golf. The silence that hangs after a ball is struck and soars through the air. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Bob McIntyre chatted amongst themselves on the 6th tee, which is situated near the 5th green. The par-4 5th is drivable, at just 305 yards. In other, more important words, it’s ace-able. 

Euro captain Luke Donald stood on that 6th tee, too. But everyone was looking forward, up the 6th, rather than looking backward, at the 5th, where the roar was building. Viktor Hovland had just nuked a 3-wood that landed on the front of the green, bouncing twice before rolling end over end. That’s when the roar grew from Oh to a communal murmur to Woahhhh and then, tink . Into the jar. Absolute eruption of applause. You didn’t have to see it to know what had happened. 

Or did you? 

🚨 VIKTOR HOVLAND MAKES A HOLE-IN-ONE ON A PAR 4! #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/OnsEG19UC6 — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2023

McIlroy and Fleetwood whipped their heads around in the direction of the 5th tee, up on their tip-toes to see if they could understand, from afar, who had holed out. The reaction was one of chaos, too. Matt Fitzpatrick leaped onto Hovland’s back. Ludvig Aberg ‘s caddie Jack Clarke leaped into the fray, too, bouncing around the tee box. But for some reason, the man himself stood there nonplussed.

Donald, with his earpiece in, immediately earned an order from McIlroy and the boys on the 6th: find out who did it! 

It was Hovland, Donald confirmed, with a smile. Of course. The Norwegian lad basically hasn’t missed a shot all summer long. There was only one issue, however. Hovland’s magical shot came on his second ball from the tee, not his first. No one on the 6th tee had seen where his first ball landed, but we can guess it probably finished in the water hazard short of the green. (Yes, you’re going to like watching shots on the 5th all week.)

“Great three,” McIlroy said, the excitement now drained from his group of teammates. “Great birdie,” Donald added.

But also, maybe the worst birdie he’s ever made?

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Which PGA Tour golfers have made an ace on a par 4?

Dustin Johnson nearly aced the 433-yard, par-4 12th hole at Kapalua's Plantation Course in the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in 2018.

It missed by about 3 inches.

Still can't decide what's harder to believe: The drive itself, or that it didn't go in. pic.twitter.com/nQExRTPhqZ — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 8, 2018

For the week, Johnson hit 12 drives that eclipsed the 375-yard mark. That's stunning power.

RELATED: Here's how to achieve more power, accuracy off the tee

Sure, Johnson is one of the longest players in the game today, but with courses making sure there are reachable par 4s out there, it isn't just the bombers who can find the green with a tee shot.

Is it a matter of time before we see a hole-in-one on a par 4?

It's only happened once in PGA Tour history.

Andrew Magee did it at the 2001 Phoenix Open on the 332-yard, par-4 17th hole at TPC Scottsdale. And it was under strange circumstances.

With the group ahead on the green, Magee decided to play his tee shot. The ball trundled onto the green. It then hit the putter of Tom Byrum and ricocheted 8 feet into the hole.

There's no video of the ball going in the hole, but here's Magee talking about the shot that didn't exactly have Byrum laughing:

"I think you'll see a hole-in-one here soon." pic.twitter.com/0N9SsdcID9 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 31, 2018

Gary Nicklaus (son of Jack) and Steve Pate were in Byrum's group that day. Rusty Uresti, brother of 2017 PGA Professional Champion Omar Uresti, was caddying for Byrum and had this terrific line after the round: "It was the first putt Tom (Byrum) made all day."

While that was the only par-4 ace in a PGA Tour competition, there are two more in recent memory -- one that turned out to be a birdie and another that happened in a pro-am.

First, the 1 that was actually a 3.

Aaron Baddeley was playing the par-4 17th hole at TPC San Antonio in the Valero Texas Open in 2015. On the 336-yard hole, Baddeley hit a terrible tee shot way left and out of bounds.

He took a penalty stroke and re-teed. And, what do you know -- it found the bottom of the cup for the most unlikely birdie the PGA Tour has ever seen.

"I just thought I'd just hit it straight and so I hit it and started walking and then heard the crowd going nuts," Baddeley said afterward. "I was like, wait, I just made birdie."

If you'll remember, something similar happened at the 1999 Players Championship.

Playing the intimidating, island-green 17th at TPC Sawgrass, Fred Couples splashed his tee shot in the water. After taking a penalty and re-teeing, Couples knocked it in the cup for, well, a par.

But that was a par 3.

The only other known par-4 ace on the PGA Tour came in the McGladrey Classic Pro-Am in 2013.

That's where the big-hitting Jason Kokrak smoked his drive on the 409-yard, par-4 fifth hole at the Seaside Course in Sea Island, Ga. It hit the flagstick and dropped into the cup.

Hole in one! pic.twitter.com/eXgkStHTbU — jason kokrak (@jaykokrak) November 6, 2013

It was Kokrak's fourth hole-in-one overall, but his first on a par 4 and first that didn't come in competition.

It's hard to believe that with all the scoring records we see broken year in and year out on the PGA Tour that there's still only been one ace on a par 4.

"I'm not surprised we haven't seen more aces on par 4s," said 2013 PGA National Teacher of the Year, Lou Guzzi. "Every Tour player wants to hit it long and be accurate, but it's not easy. Tell me: how many shots do they hole out from 100 yards every week? It doesn't happen often and it's almost never. If you look at the hole as the destination, you're always missing it unless you get close. It's hard. That hole is small."

There have been a few par-4 aces on other Tours, some featured in the video below, but only one on the PGA Tour.

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Comet 3-time All-NEIC golfer Carson Gallup records ‘Albatross’ hole-in-one during PGA Junior Golf Tour

By John Burbridge

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Among the avian golf terms, it’s the rarest of birds.

Most are familiar with the “Birdie” (1 stroke under par) and the “Eagle” (2 strokes under) … but what about the “Albatross”?

That’s when you sink the ball 3 strokes under par.

Indeed, an Albatross is about as rare as a Dodo Bird sighting.

More commonly referred to as a “Double Eagle”, you shoot an Albatross by way of carding a 2 on a Par 5, or hitting a hole-in-one on a Par 4.

Carson Gallup did the latter while competing on the Iowa PGA Junior Golf Tour this summer.

Playing at the Okoboji Junior Open at Brooks Golf Course on July 28-29, Gallup aced the course’s 340-yard, Par-4 hole No. 3 in the first round of play.

Finishing with a 53 after 13 holes before play was suspended due to weather conditions, Gallup shot a 2-over 18-hole score of 73 in the second round for a total of 126, which tied him for second with Elijah Anderson of Clear Lake.

Hunter Schmidt of Dunnell, Minnesota won the tournament with a two-day score of 125.

There were 43 golfers registered for the Okoboji Junior Open

During the tour this summer, Gallup tied for first at the Greater Cedar Rapids Open on July 7, placed third at the Woodland Hills Junior Open on June 20, and tied for third at the Waterloo Junior Classic on Aug. 16.

In eight events this season, Gallup has placed in the Top 7 in six of them.

With a total of 760.17 placement points, Gallup is ranked in the Top 25 in Iowa PGA Junior Golf Player of the Year standings with many of those ranked ahead of him having participated in more tournaments.

During last year’s tour, Gallup placed in the Top 9 in all five of the tournaments he entered including a second-place showing at the Cedar Rapids Junior.

An incoming senior this school year, Gallup is a three-time All-Northeast Iowa Conference Golf Team performer while representing Charles City High School.

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FedEx St. Jude Championship Hole in One Odds (Will There Be an Ace at TPC Southwind?)

Peter dewey | aug 13, 2024.

The PGA Tour playoffs are upon us, starting with the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind this week. 

There are plenty of ways to bet on this event, and SI Betting’s Brian Giuffra has laid out his favorite picks for this week’s tournament— you can find them here . 

As for this article, we’re focusing on one of the most exciting things in golf: a hole in one. 

Last year, Sam Burns sunk an ace when attacking the island green at No. 11, just the third hole in one at No. 11 in PGA Tour history and the 30th in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs. 

SLAM DUNK HOLE-IN-ONE ❗️ @SamBurns66 records his second ace this season @FedExChamp ! pic.twitter.com/wtmMVJjz5Y — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 12, 2023

There are four par-3s at TPC Southwind, leaving golfers with a few opportunities to hunt the flag and etch their name in history at this course, and in the FedExCup Playoffs as a whole.

Here’s a look at those holes at TPC Southwind:

• Hole 4: 196 yards with water short left of the green
• Hole 8: 171 yards to a narrow green with two large bunkers guarding the left side
• Hole 11: 162 yards to an island green
• Hole 14: 239 yards with a carry over water—Bob Estes has the only hole in one at this hole in a PGA Tour event (2002). 

If you’re looking to bet on a hole in one, DraftKings Sportsbook has props for not only the entire tournament, but round-by-round as well. 

FedEx St. Jude Championship Hole in One Odds

Fedex st. jude championship hole in one odds by round.

• First Round: +550
• Second Round: +550
• Third Round: +550
• Fourth Round: +550

FedEx St. Jude Championship Hole in One Prediction

There are certainly a few gettable par-3s on this course, even though many of them feature a water hazard that golfers need to steer clear of. 

Burns made a hole in one last season and I think there is some value in getting “Yes” at even money in 2024. 

While the 14th is highly unlikely to see anyone pick up an ace, both the 8th and 11th are attackable based on the distance. 

Bettors could also consider a small wager on “Yes” for each round while also taking “No” in a larger wager for the entire tournament to cover potential losses. Personally, I’d take a shot on players hunting these par-3s in the first PGA Tour playoff event. 

Pick: Yes +100

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800)-GAMBLER.

PETER DEWEY

Peter is a senior editor for Sports Illustrated Betting. He has worked as a writer and editor for BetSided, NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, and more. A New York City resident, he is a hoops fanatic with a soft spot for his New York Knicks.

Follow @peterdewey2

BMW Championship

Castle Pines Golf Club

Viral Videos

Man runs the entire length of famed PGA Tour drivable par 4 to confirm he made hole-in-one

We've often imagined how we'd react if we made a hole-in-one. And by "we," I'm actually just referring to myself because basically everyone else at Golf Digest—and most of my co-workers' children—have made aces. So they already know how they'd react. Must be nice.

RELATED: Man makes hole-in-one, members celebrate cart girl's perfect timing

But a common reaction you see is someone taking off and running towards the hole. Even if they're playing in a golf cart. We're pretty sure this move actually takes more time most of the time, but again, I've never made one so I can't speak to why people do this. But where running gets even more curious is when you've made an ace—or think you've made an ace—on a par 4.

Such was the case for a guy named "Jake" who not only made a rare type of hole-in-one, but did it on one of the PGA Tour's most famous drivable par 4s, the 17th at TPC Scottsdale. Have a look:

Congrats to Jake. Both on the hole-in-one and for being in pretty darn good shape. I'm not sure I could have run all 300-plus yards from tee to green. Also, what a place to do it. That hole happens to be the site of the only par-4 ace in PGA Tour history , made by Andrew Magee at the 2001 Phoenix Open.

RELATED: This is definitely the craziest hole-in-one story we've ever heard

And great job by his group documenting the whole thing, and even providing some play-by-play.

"We might have a hole-in-one on a par 4," a guy in the cart says. "Jake just hit one, holy shit!"

Fortunately, Jake's golf ball was in the cup. Otherwise, that would have been a LOT of effort for nothing.

RELATED: Irish football star incredibly recreates famous Rory McIlroy shot

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Rory McIlroy with one of the funniest club tosses of all-time (yes, really!)

World number three Rory McIlroy was filmed getting hot under the collar during the second round of the PGA Tour's BMW Championship.

Rory McIlroy's frustration boiled over in the funniest way imaginable during the second round of the BMW Championship . 

The Northern Irishman carded a 1-under 71 on Friday at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado.

His second round was relatively ordinary as he turned in 1-under and played holes 10 to 16 in level par. 

Things took a humorous turn, though, when reached the par-5 17th as he staked the claim for perhaps one of the worst club tosses of all time. 

The four-time major champion, 35, missed the fairway with his drive. 

He knew as soon his golf ball came off the club face that his shot was no good as he leaned left. 

After a few 'fore' shouts, McIlroy tentatively threw his club to the floor. 

But his TaylorMade Qi10 took one skip off the ground and promptly went into the water.

Cue a red-faced McIlroy sheepishly walking over to retrieve the chief. 

McIlroy managed to salvage a par at the hole. 

He was perhaps still a bit frustrated on the tee box as he was coming off a three-putt at the hole prior. 

Watch what happened here:

-1000 for most tentative club throw of all-time pic.twitter.com/6v3o1nn8a6 — Golfbet (@Golfbet) August 23, 2024

Rory McIlroy threw his club in the water after his tee shot on 17 pic.twitter.com/wsPQsqYRcd — Quentin Sickafoose (@QSickafoose) August 23, 2024

Incredible. 

It has to be said, though, this club 'toss' has nothing on his outburst of anger at the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. 

McIlroy was fined $25,000 by the PGA Tour after he ferociously launched his 3-iron into a lake. 

The fine was later reduced to $5,000 after he said sorry on TV. 

McIlroy wasn't the only player to lose his cool on day two. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler also got animated after he watched one of his approach shots sail over the green. 

Watch Scheffler's NSFW outburst of anger here:

Scottie!!!! pic.twitter.com/aJBObEEz7h — Patrick McDonald (@pmcdonaldCBS) August 23, 2024

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In this week’s edition, we celebrate the return of Castle Pines to the PGA Tour landscape, Max Homa’s return to social media and a voice of reason to the player-of-the-year conversation.

Something new . To be accurate, Castle Pines was a staple on the PGA Tour from 1986 to 2006 as the host venue of The International, but for a generation of players and fans, this week’s BMW Championship is a mile-high gift.

At 8,130 yards, Castle Pines is the longest course to host a Tour event and the rolling layout just south of Denver is a magical mix of mountain views and monstrous drives.

The guilty pleasure that is golf at altitude produced a 395-yard drive at the first hole for Rory McIlroy on Day 1 — which wasn’t even close to the day’s longest at the par-4 opener (Taylor Pendrith’s 418-yard drive led the day) — and maddening “altitude” math that produced plenty of glorious player-caddie content.

Beyond the compelling mix of thin air and elite athletes, there’s also the benefit of a meaningful tournament being held in a major market with many of the game’s best players, something the current Tour schedule is largely lacking.

Transparency . While the golf media (including your scribe) has spent the last few weeks debating potential PGA Tour player of the year candidates, Xander Schauffele put a bow on the conversation in a very Xander-like way this week.

“I’ve won two times and [Scottie Scheffler has] won seven. We both have a lot of top-10s. That’s kind of how I’m drawing it up. I know that’s how you guys draw it up,” Schauffele said. “He’s been playing unbelievable golf. I feel like we’re all just chasing him. I’ve done probably the best job of getting the closest to him, but it’s still very far away.”

It was an extreme sports-radio way to frame the narrative and ignores how the membership, who vote on player of the year, might view Schauffele winning the FedExCup with a victory next week at East Lake.

But even that scenario likely wouldn’t change many minds when it comes to who deserves the Jack Nicklaus Award. It certainly doesn’t seem relevant to Schauffele.

Made Cut-Did Not Finish (MDF)

Contraction . Change driven by an irrational force seems inevitable with the Tour’s policy board set to review a plan that would significantly reduce the total number of exempt players.

The plan, which was presented to the circuit’s Player Advisory Council this week in Colorado and could be implemented as early as 2026, would reduce field sizes for full-field events to 120 players and, ultimately, cut the number of exempt players to the top 100 (down from the top 125) from the previous season’s FedExCup points list and the top 20 (down from the top 30) from the previous season’s Korn Ferry Tour points list.

Some players have argued that the proposed plan would, in theory, create a more competitive product but only if the signature events, which have been capped between 72 and 80 players, were expanded. Larger signature events would give the players off the Korn Ferry and DP World tours a better chance to compete against the game’s best, but according to one member of the PAC, the Tour isn’t likely to expand signature event field sizes as a tradeoff for smaller tee sheets at full-field events.

Of all the lessons learned over the last three years it is odd that the Tour continues to struggle with the notion that sometimes less isn’t always more.

Tweet (now X) of the week :

Hopped off Twitter a while back cuz I thought it might help my game. Boy was I wrong 😂 hoping tomorrow is the day it clicks. At the very least I’m finally going to grow an ass after walking Castle Pines this week — max homa (@Maxhoma) August 22, 2024

We jumped back on social media this week and were welcomed by the “sovereign of social media’s” return to the platform he stepped away from in June .

It appears Homa was hoping his time away would help turn his game around but that wasn’t the case with his best finish a tie for 43 rd at The Open. We’re not sure the toxic pool of social media is the answer to the six-time Tour winner’s woes but at least the rest of us will be entertained.

Something new . New-ish venues, like this week’s playoff stop south of Denver, intensify fan interest and bring elite golf to a market that’s been without for nearly two decades.

It also focuses a spotlight on what’s missing from the postseason — variety. While East Lake and last week’s host, TPC Southwind, have proven to be solid venues with plenty of corporate and fan support, there’s no ignoring the fact the Tour has no regular stops in New York City, Boston or Chicago (three of the top 7 media markets in the United States, according to the 2023-24 Nielsen rankings).

The BMW Championship makes regular stops in the Chicago market and in 2027 the tournament is scheduled to be played at Liberty National in New Jersey, but the lack of variety is noteworthy for a circuit that’s become increasingly focused on a star-driven product.

Atlanta and Memphis are part of the Tour’s fabric, but as the sports world learned during last month’s Olympics in Paris, incorporating an iconic location into a high-level competition makes for a more compelling product.

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Adam scott turns back the clock, ludvig aberg lurking among 5 things to know at bmw championship, share this article.

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – In preparation for the PGA Tour’s return to Castle Pines Golf Club after an 18-year absence , Jack Nicklaus returned 10 times and re-did every green and every bunker. When he visited on Wednesday, he told officials of the club that he thought he’d finally gotten it right. 

“I love Castle Pines,” Nicklaus said, “It’s a very special place in my heart.” 

The course is more than 600 yards longer than when the International was last held here in 2006, stretching to 8,130 yards in the thin, mountain air, but as the old saying goes, these guys are good. On Thursday, Keegan Bradley shot 66, surpassing the previous course record held by Brady Duval, son of David, on May 23. Bradley’s record didn’t even last 24 hours as Adam Scott torched Jack’s handiwork to the tune of 9-under 63. 

BMW Championship: Leaderboard | Photos | Tee times

Here are five things to know from the second round of the BMW Championship.

Adam Scott turns back the clock

Adam Scott said he’s reminded on an almost daily basis that he’s one of the old guys on the PGA Tour these days.

But playing this week at the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club has made the 44-year-old Australian a bit nostalgic. Twenty-four years ago, Scott was a newly minted pro and accepted a sponsor’s invite to the International. He had played in the British Open a few weeks earlier but essentially it marked his first start in the U.S. on the Tour. Another reminder that Scott’s been in this racket for an awfully long time: he and Jason Day are the only two players in the 50-man field this week who previously competed here. Scott has won the Masters, reached world No. 1 and captured 14 Tour titles, but it’s been four years since his last victory at the 2020 Genesis Invitational.

“It’s hard to keep pace with what the younger guys are doing, from hitting the ball at a speed that’s competitive to practicing enough to having the motivation and the drive to do it,” he said. “I think it’s harder for the older guys.”

Not on Friday for Scott. Despite a less-than-satisfying range session, Scott took advantage of softer conditions after a late afternoon rainstorm on Thursday and shot a bogey-free 9-under 63, setting a course record.

“I don’t think any players in this field thought 9 under was possible,” NBC’s Brad Faxon said. 

Scott, however, envisioned low numbers when he played his practice rounds and was surprised that scoring wasn’t better in the opening round. He went out and made 107 feet of putts on Thursday, which ranked third in Strokes Gained: putting, and poured in 126 feet on Friday, which ranked first in SGP.

“I made everything,” said Scott.

PGA Tour Radio’s Mark McCumber agreed: “He looks like he can brush them in from everywhere.” 

Scott, who ranks 37 th  in SGP this season has been able to depend on his putting. His iron play? Not so much.

“I putt well all the time. I don’t ever putt bad, actually. It’s really my iron play has been atrocious for two years,” he said.

He’s experimented with equipment this year, using a set of cavity-back irons last week in Memphis and going back to a set of blades this week.

“I’ve basically used a blade my whole life, but I kind of felt like watching this new generation, a lot of them play cavities, and it’s probably the future. It seems more forgiving. I think it is more forgiving. But it’s just not, like, what I’m used to. I thought it was worth having a go. I didn’t play terrible when I did that. There was some good stuff in there, too,” he said. “But I think when it comes down to it, under the most pressure, I feel most comfortable with kind of that blade. I’ll use that as long as I can.”

He hit a beauty at the par-3 16 th . Scott said he had a perfect number to attack the back left hole location and stuffed a 6-iron from 229 yards to 4 feet.

Right at it 🎯 @AdamScott sets up another birdie with a brilliant tee shot on No. 16. pic.twitter.com/sgHcMZRqmo — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 23, 2024

“You’ve got to put your foot down when you can and take advantage because someone else will be if you’re not,” Scott said. “Today it was me.”

Keegan Bradley: 'I'm really swinging it well'

Keegan Bradley celebrates after a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Keegan Bradley nearly made it to the house bogey-free for 36 holes around Castle Pines but dropped his lone stroke of the tournament at the final hole on Friday after missing his drive in the right rough. Still, his 66-68 start, good for solo second and three back of Scott has been impressive, to say the least.

“I just have basically hit every shot the way I wanted this week. Even that drive on 18, I hit really well. Just the wind got it a little bit,” he said. “Game feels really good.”

Bradley struggled last week, finishing T-59, and was the last man to qualify for the 50-man field at the BMW. He also hasn’t finished better than T-22 in his last seven starts dating to late May. So far at Castle Pines, he ranks first in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and SG: Approach the Green. So what’s clicked?

“I don’t know,” he said. “Sometimes you show up to the golf course, it just feels better. I’m really swinging at it well. That’s about as high as I could have shot today.”

Bradley, the winner of the 2018 BMW, was inside the top 10 in the FedEx Cup standings for 43 weeks last season, but only one week this season. He’s projected to jump to No. 11.

Bradley jarred a 33-foot birdie putt at No. 4, his first of five circles on the card for the day, and a 17-footer at 14 and clenched his fist. Despite the first bogey of the week, Bradley played himself into the final group with Scott, a player he said he’s long admired. 

“I’ll have to play my very best to catch him, for sure,” Bradley said.

Ludvig Aberg flips the switch

Ludvig Aberg didn’t realize he’d tied the course record at Castle Pines until a PGA Tour official asked him to pose for a photo with his scorecard.

“Darn, I really wish I made that putt at 18 now,” he said with a smile of his birdie effort that narrowly missed.

Aberg’s 63 came just hours after Scott set the mark. He and caddie Joe Skovron saw Scott’s score on the leaderboard walking down one of the first few holes and said, let’s go low too.

“We talked about it yesterday, too, that we could see a low one, and we were just fortunate that it was us today,” Aberg said.

He managed to go nine strokes lower than a day earlier. He was 3 over through 15 holes on Thursday before he made birdie on the final three holes. A seven-birdie round of 72 didn’t get him down.

“I was encouraged, to be honest with you, because I felt like the mistakes that I made, they were still aggressive, which I don’t really mind,” he said.

Aberg already has recorded 16 birdies or better this week, eclipsing his previous best for 36 holes in his Tour career by two.

Aberg nearly aced the par-3 11 th , nicking the flag, and he also launched a 7-wood from 306 yards to 6 feet to set up an eagle at the par-5 14 th .

What are the odds?! Ludvig Åberg’s approach lands directly on top of another 😳 pic.twitter.com/TTeDucWV4d — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 11, 2024

“Obviously I didn’t try to go that far left, but every now and then you get away with those,” said Aberg, who is 8 under on the par 5s this week.

Alex Noren's pair of 68s

Alex Noren of Sweden plays his shot from the 18th tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 23, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Alex Noren has fought a balky putter for much of the year. It’s the part of his game that he blames for a season in which he made a lot of cuts but didn’t get himself in the trophy hunt to his liking.

“When I’ve been playing good tee to green, just the putting that’s been missing,” he said.

On Thursday, the putter was his friend and he topped the field in SG: putting. On Friday, the putter cooled off a bit but he still ranks second in putting for the week. 

“I hit the ball better today. I hit a lot more fairways, hit the iron shots better, wedges better. Got some more chances. I’m happy,” he said.

With a pair of 68s, he sits in fourth place and earned a pairing with Ludvig Aberg, his fellow Swede. The two just spent a lot of time together in Paris during the Olympics as teammates and even played a practice round on Monday.

“It’s always nice to have someone who I can speak my native language to,” Aberg said of being paired with Noren. 

Everything else you need to know

It was an uncharacteristically mediocre day for the world No. 1 and 2. Scottie Scheffler shot even-par 72 and sits T-29 at 1-under 143. He lost 2.83 strokes to the field on the greens, his second-worst round of the year on the greens behind only the second round at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He’s still projected No. 1 in the FedEx Cup. Xander Schauffele shot 1-over 73 and sits T-23 at 2-under 142. He came home with four bogeys in his final six holes — the lone pars being at the par 5s.

Rain on Thursday softened the course. There were 26 drives of 400 yards or more in the first round and none in the second.

Hideki Matsuyama withdrew before the round citing a lower back injury. He will receive last-place unofficial money but no FedEx Cup points.

Collin Morikawa had to play as a single due to the Matsuyama WD and came home in 31.

Rory McIlroy tossed his 3-wood in the water in frustration during a round of 71.

FedEx Cup Bubble Watch: Scott, Bradley, Noren and Corey Conners are the four players currently projected to move into the top 30 and Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Davis Thompson and Denny McCarthy are projected to fall out. The top 30 after the BMW on Sunday advance to the Tour Championship and also qualify for three of the four majors.

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Keegan Bradley last man in, first on the leaderboard at BMW Championship

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Keegan Bradley went from a bundle of nerves waiting to see if he would advance in the PGA Tour postseason to a blissful day of birdies in mile-high air Thursday that led to a 6-under 66 and the lead in the BMW Championship.

Bradley, the newly appointed U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was the last man to get in the 50-man field at Castle Pines and he had to sweat it out Sunday. He was in his hotel room with the TV going, the FedExCup standings on another screen and his phone buzzing.

“One of the toughest afternoons of my PGA Tour career,” Bradley said. “It was really brutal. It’s such a relief to be here. I just felt a lot calmer today. But I played really, really well.”

Scottie Scheffler shrugs off back concern after shooting 71 at BMW Championship

Scheffler grabbed his lower back after hitting his second shot into the 17 th hole at the BMW Championship.

Ryan Lavner ,

It showed on a course that could dole out punishment without a moment’s notice. Bradley missed only two fairways and two greens, took advantage of the par 5s and made it look relatively easy on the 8,130-yard course, the longest in PGA Tour history.

The opening round was halted for just over three hours because of thunderstorms, a common occurrence in the late afternoon when The International was held at Castle Pines during its two decades on the PGA Tour schedule.

Hideki Matsuyama, the winner in the playoff opener last week, was at 5 under when play was stopped. He returned to his approach on the 18th to 2 feet. He missed the birdie putt and had to settle for a 67.

Rory McIlroy was just settling over a 20-foot par putt on the 18th when he heard the horn to stop play, smiled and marked his ball. Three hours and two putts later, he had a 70.

Adam Scott, among two players who were at Castle Pines during its two-decade run on the PGA Tour, made a long par-saving putt on the 18th for a 68 and was joined by Sungjae Im, Alex Noren and Corey Conners.

Double major winner Xander Schauffele opened with a 69 while playing alongside Scottie Scheffler, who worked through some mild soreness in his back for a 71. Scheffler is assured of being the No. 1 seed at the Tour Championship next week unless Schauffele were to win.

It’s all about numbers at Castle Pines, and that’s not just the math required to figure out how far the ball is going in elevation at 6,300 feet above sea level. The simple math is take 10% off the yardage, simple enough except when a pond is guarding the front of the green.

The other number is 30, the players who advance to East Lake next week to compete for the $25 million FedExCup title. The higher the seed, the better the chance.

BMW Championship: Round 2 tee times, pairings and how to watch

Tee times, pairings and how to watch the second round of the BMW Championship.

Golf Channel Staff

Bradley had reason to think he could join them the way he played, even with three rounds to go. The key was getting to the BMW Championship, which allows him to plan a schedule that will put him in the same place as players aspiring to be on the Ryder Cup team.

“I want to be out there with the guys on the Ryder Cup team,” he said. “I want to be playing with them, on the range with them, in the locker room, in the tournament. It was really important for me to be in this top 50.”

It was a good start for Noren, who has never been to the Tour Championship and is No. 45 in the FedEx Cup. Ditto for Scott at No. 41.

The Australian’s experience at Castle Pines is a little overrated. Scott was a 20-year-old who received a sponsor exemption in 2000 to play his first regular PGA Tour event. He remembered a few of the holes, the elevation changes, the tough walk and the beauty.

“I remember being around all the players that I’d looked up to my entire childhood and feeling really not prepared for it, to be perfectly honest,” he said. “But it gave me inspiration to get better and work on my game and make sure I’m good enough to be out here.”

Scheffler stretched his neck to the side a few times, but then on the 17th he appeared to grab his lower back on a long iron shot to the par 5. His last two full shots looked fine, as did so much of the rest of his round. Scheffler said it was nothing to be alarmed about.

“I woke up just a little sore this morning. I had trouble kind of loosening it up,” he said. “I was laboring most of the day to get through the ball. On 17, I was trying to hit a high draw, and that’s a shot where I’ve really got to use a big turn, big motion. Really just felt it a little bit. But other than that, all good.”

Scheffler had a neck issue at The Players Championship and nearly withdrew in the middle of the second round. Two days later, he rallied from five shots behind to win. And the he won the Masters three weeks later.

“He was stiff at the Masters, at The Players and had to get worked on all those times,” Schauffele said. “I guess it’s a bad sign for everyone else.”

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PGA Tour star bemused by Matt Kuchar's 'strange' explanation for controversial decision

Matt Kuchar was in the spotlight at the Wyndham Championship earlier this month after refusing to complete his final round in fading light, and his explanation left one PGA Tour star confused

• 15:57, 23 AUG 2024
• Updated 16:44, 23 AUG 2024

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PGA Tour rising star Max Greyserman was at the centre of a bizarre situation involving Matt Kuchar earlier this month, and the youngster has dubbed the veteran’s behaviour “strange”.

Greyserman was on track to claim a breakthrough victory at the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina on August 11 before a back-nine blow-up opened the door for Wolverhampton’s Aaron Rai.

But neither of those men dominated the headlines in the aftermath. Instead, it was nine-time PGA Tour winner Kuchar who was in the spotlight. Bad weather saw the first day of the tournament washed out, meaning the final 36 holes were squeezed into the last day.

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In fading light, Rai – playing one group ahead of Greyserman and Kuchar, carded a birdie at 18 to take – in all likelihood – an unassailable two-shot lead. Kuchar was way out of contention after a stuttering final round.

But he stunned commentators and fans alike when he decided to mark his ball after taking his final tee shot, returning the next day to complete his tournament. He was the only man on the course for the most low-key of Monday finishes, landing in a tie for 12th, seven shots off the winner. Other than prize money, he had nothing to play for.

Explaining his decision to walk off without finishing on the Sunday, Kuchar said he was trying to set an example for Greyserman – who he felt had been unfairly treated by tournament officials, arguing that play should have been postponed several holes earlier due to the increasing darkness.

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“I feel bad, the poor kid should have won this tournament,” Kuchar said. “By me not playing, it may show Max he had an important shot to hit.”

Greyserman, the world No. 51, says Kuchar’s verdict on the situation left him baffled. He told Fore Play: “He didn’t say anything to me, to be honest. I’m not really sure why he said that in his post-round press conference.

“We all went along our way down the [18th] fairway and I saw Aaron Rai made birdie and so at that point I was two shots away,” he said. “I’m like ‘OK, I don’t even need to come back in the morning’. I can try to hole the shot but I can’t see anything it doesn’t matter right?

“I’m like ‘Alright, let’s just finish’. I hit my shot, then look over at Kuchar and he’s in the trees and he just marked his ball, and he never said really anything. We just keep going and he’s like ‘Yeah I’m going to come back in the morning’. I don’t really know why, he never said anything to me. Not sure why he said that in the media.

“I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think he needed TIO (Temporary immovable obstruction) relief – and benefit of the doubt – it was maybe going to take him a lot of time, which is fine for him. But to come out and say that he was trying to do something in service to me or something like that – I thought that was pretty strange.”

Greyserman’s performances this season earned him a place in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but he is unlikely to qualify for next week’s Tour Championship after a six-over-par opening round at the BMW Championship at Castle Pines in Colorado on Thursday. Kuchar did not qualify for the playoffs.

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Denver native Wyndham Clark returns to where it all began

Tour Insider

A legend in Denver, which hosts this week’s BMW Championship

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It was a promise that Randall Clark never imagined he’d need to fulfill.

A former professional tennis player, Randall didn’t want his son to get sucked down the vortex of video games. But, like most kids his age, Wyndham Clark badly wanted a PlayStation. As a compromise, Randall made a pledge during one of the family’s summer vacations to the Colorado mountains. He intentionally made the terms nearly impossible to fulfill.

Wyndham, then 6 years old, could get the console if he made an eagle. He’d never scored better than a par before.

That changed when Wyndham stepped to the 12th tee at Keystone Ranch, which played 125 yards from his tees. Wyndham grabbed his driver, struck the shot and watched it roll into the hole.

Both father and son began celebrating, but for very different reasons.

“I celebrated because I realized I won a PlayStation and my dad was celebrating because it was a hole-in-one,” Wyndham said. “Then he realized, Oh no, now I have to get my son a PlayStation. I have to be a man of my word .”

It was the first of many trophies Clark collected throughout Colorado. This week, he returns for the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock.

It will be Clark’s first PGA TOUR start in his home state, and the timing couldn’t be much better. In the past 15 months, he’s become a major champion, won three PGA TOUR titles and represented the U.S. in the Paris Olympics. He’s sixth in the FedExCup and fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking, meaning the hometown favorite also will be one of the tournament’s favorites.

Clark’s rise has corresponded with his focus on his mental health and his work with sports psychologist Julie Elion. Channeling his fiery intensity has helped him capitalize on the potential he’s displayed since he was a high school kid in suburban Denver, winning tournaments by incredible margins while displaying a poise and polish that set him apart.

“Everybody knew about him,” said former PGA TOUR player Jim Knous. “He was a phenom.”

Knous, four years older than Clark, shot 60 in the final round of the 2010 state amateur, but that was only enough to force a playoff with Clark, who won with a 30-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole. Clark, 16, was the tournament’s youngest winner in nearly 40 years.

Wyndham Clark poses with the trophy after winning the 2010 state amateur in Colorado.

A year earlier, Clark won the state junior by 11, leading one of the runners-up to quip, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned pro before he got out of high school.”

“I hope to be the best, that’s my goal,” said Clark, whose second-round 65 was the low round of the tournament by three shots and gave him a six-shot lead entering the final round. He extended the lead to nine after hitting a 220-yard 4-iron to a foot to eagle the fourth hole of the final round and finished at 8 under. His nearest competitors were 3-over par.

Clark also won two state high school championships in Colorado (and finished second in the other two). He shot 64-64 in his senior year to win by eight. One of his high school teammates, Michael Schoolcraft, said Clark's dominance in Colorado was Tiger-esque.

"When he was playing junior or high school tournaments, it was like, 'Wyndham's won. We're just playing for second,'" Schoolcraft said. "It was over."

Clark says he always intended to go to college – he attended Oklahoma State before transferring to Oregon – but those who watched him saw a player who looked more like a pro than his peers.

“He carried himself as a professional. He treated it as a job, one that he loved to do,” said his high school coach, Jason Preeo. “There was just an intensity and a focus on continuing to want to get better and not necessarily being satisfied.”

Preeo played professional golf and coached his alma mater, the University of the Pacific, before coaching Clark for his final three years at Valor Christian High School. Preeo said he’s never had a player who was more inquisitive, constantly asking questions in his quest to improve.

And although Preeo made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after Clark’s sophomore year of high school, the coach didn’t hesitate to admit that Clark already was better than him.

“There was no question in my mind,” Preeo said.

Clark never shot over par in a high school match during his three seasons playing for Preeo.

Wyndham Clark won two state high school championships in Colorado.

“That’s the stat that everybody’s like, ‘Holy cow,’” Preeo said.

With his win last year at Los Angeles Country Club, Clark joined Hale Irwin and Steve Jones as U.S. Open champions from Colorado. The player he was most often compared to in high school, however, was Bob Byman.

Byman’s win in the 1972 U.S. Junior came in the midst of three straight wins in the Colorado Stroke Play (1971-73), and he went on to play on NCAA title-winning teams at Wake Forest and then the PGA TOUR, where he won the 1979 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. When Clark won the 2010 Colorado Stroke Play, he was the youngest winner since Byman in 1971.

George Hoos coached Byman in high school, and watched Clark win his final high school state championship. Hoos described Clark as “a better physical specimen.”

“He’s flat good,” Hoos said.

Roy Edwards, the longtime coach at the University of Colorado, first saw Clark compete when the burgeoning superstar was around 12 years old.

“I distinctly remember the swagger and conviction,” Edwards said. “At that age, it was clear he wasn’t scared of anyone or anything. … As good as his physical game was, it was apparent his real gift as a player was his confidence and his determination to win.”

Mike McGraw, who recruited Clark to Oklahoma State, described Clark’s intensity as “off the charts.” It sometimes expressed itself as the temper that Clark later learned to tame.

“It was obvious to me that he cared a great deal about being great,” McGraw said.

During Colorado’s long summer days, Clark would spend 12 hours at the course. He’d get on his bike if a ride wasn’t available. The trip took about 20 minutes, slightly longer if he had his clubs on his back. He’d take the back roads on those days to avoid being seen. Members at Cherry Hills Country Club, the venue for Arnold Palmer’s 1960 U.S. Open win, recall seeing Clark on the putting green when they teed off and still there when they made the turn.

“If he was practicing his irons, he wasn’t going to quit until everything was perfect,” said Schoolcraft, who went on to play at Oklahoma before competing on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas. “Same with putting, same with every aspect of the game. He was the strongest perfectionist.

“The thing that stands out was his passion, dedication and motivation for the sport,” he added, “and how he kind of knew that he was going to be good, there was no question about it. I’ve known him since he was probably 10 or 11 years old, and it’s kind of been that way ever since.”

Clark has been proven correct. Now he returns to Colorado, having fulfilled the potential he displayed all those years ago.

Sean Martin is a senior editor for the PGA TOUR. He is a 2004 graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Attending a small school gave him a heart for the underdog, which is why he enjoys telling stories of golf's lesser-known players. Follow Sean Martin on Twitter .