John Parry Stuns with First Hole-in-One at Open Championship in Royal Portrush

In a moment of pure magic at Royal Portrush, John Parry etched his name into the annals of golf history by scoring the first hole-in-one of this year’s Open Championship during the third round on Saturday. With a masterful swing of his 8-iron, Parry sent the ball soaring across the 192-yard 13th hole, where it landed with grace, bounced a couple of times, and rolled straight into the cup. Talk about a shot that’s par for the course of brilliance!

The 38-year-old Englishman couldn’t contain his joy, doffing his hat and sharing a heartfelt embrace with playing partner Justin Leonard. Parry later revealed this was likely his 10th career hole-in-one, but without a doubt, the most unforgettable. 'Definitely the best one, 100 percent,' he beamed, and who could argue with that?

Reflecting on the shot, Parry admitted he sensed it would be close the moment it left his club. 'I hit a really good shot for once,' he quipped, noting the comfortable window he had to land the ball. Whether it pitched short or fed down the slope, the result was nothing short of spectacular. This isn’t the first time the 13th hole at Royal Portrush has witnessed such perfection—Emiliano Grillo achieved the same feat six years ago at this very venue.

Parry’s ace marked the 31st hole-in-one at The Open since 1981, adding a dazzling highlight to his tournament performance. He finished the day at 3-under overall after a stellar four-under-par 67, describing the atmosphere as 'absolutely amazing.' Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler holds the lead at 12-under, but for now, the spotlight shines on Parry’s unforgettable moment of glory.