By Frank Pingue
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 11 (Reuters) – Shane Lowry produced one of the moments of the 2026 Masters on Saturday with a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth during the third round at Augusta National.
Lowry threaded a seven-iron into the 190-yard hole known as Juniper and his ball hit the green, took a couple of bounces and curled into the left side of the cup to send the gathered patrons into raptures.
The Irishman’s reaction was instant and uninhibited — he leaned back, punched both fists skyward and then threw his arms around caddie Darren Reynolds and playing partner Tommy Fleetwood in a joyous embrace.
After retrieving his ball from the cup, Lowry milked the moment further, teasing the crowd with a mock throw before pocketing the souvenir with a grin.
The ace moved Lowry to eight-under for the week, suddenly in a tie for second place — four shots behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy.
Lowry is now the first player to hit two aces at the Masters, having also carded a hole-in-one at the par-three 16th in 2016.
His latest hole-in-one is the first at the Masters since Stewart Cink’s hole-in-one at the 16th in 2022 and the 35th in tournament history.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
