Sanderson Farms Championship

C.C. of Jackson



    Well Played

    Sam Ryder came so close to making ANOTHER hole-in-one at golf's craziest hole

    February 09, 2024

    In golf, there are definitely certain courses for certain horses, but Sam Ryder almost took the phrase one-trick pony to a whole new level on Friday.

    The PGA Tour pro is probably best known for making a hole-in-one during the third round of the 2022 WM Phoenix Open. In case you don't remember, the ace sent the most raucous crowd in golf into a complete tizzy and caused a 15-minute-plus delay in play while tournament workers cleaned up beer cans and debris. Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

    Well, that was fun. Except for those on cleanup duty, of course.

    Anyway, fast forward to Ryder's return to the event this year. And in his first crack at the hole dubbed "The Coliseum" thanks to bad weather interrupting Thursday's play, Ryder came this close to making another ace there. Check it out:

    Wow. Talk about owning a hole. Those announcers certainly thought that had a chance at another ace, but the softened green probably kept him from one. That being said, he was happy with a kick-in birdie and an opening round of 69.

    Besides, it's probably for the best Ryder's tee shot didn't drop. With more bad weather in the Phoenix-area forecast following last week's shortened event at Pebble Beach—and Super Bowl LVIII looming on Sunday—the last thing this PGA Tour event needs is another delay. Of any kind.