‘It was a crazy moment’: Australian hits hole in one on British Open debut

An Australian golfer who hit a hole in one in his first major championship said he would remember the shot every time he steps onto a par-three for the rest of his life.

Travis Smyth, who was playing at the British Open for the first time, was momentarily the toast of the golfing world after recording an ace on Royal Liverpool’s redesigned and treacherous 17th hole on Friday night (AEST).

The world No.310 sent the crowd into raptures when his nine iron found the cup on a hole dubbed “Little Eye”, which has tormented some of the world’s best players in the first two rounds despite being just 120 metres long.

“It was a crazy moment,” Smyth told this masthead. “Even walking down 18, the crowd were still applauding, and to be congratulated by the other players was great.

“It’s pretty awesome to think I’ve just hit a shot I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. I’ll think of that moment every time I step up on a par-three from now on. That’s wild.”

The 28-year-old from Shellharbour walked off the same hole in his first round realising his chances of making the cut were gone after a double bogey en route to an opening 78.

But the hole in one during his second round provided a moment to cherish during a battling one-over 72, which left him five shots adrift of the cut line.

“I really just wanted to hit a good shot,” Smyth said. “I played the hole very poorly the day before, making a double bogey, and standing on the 17th tee today I just wanted to hit the shot I should have yesterday.

“It was pretty much the exact same wind. I tried to hit a punchy little nine iron and keep it below the wind. I wanted to start it at the middle of the green and let the wind do its thing.

“It was just amazing. As the ball took off I thought, ‘Yes, I’m on the green’. As it started to descend, it was looking good and I said to myself, ‘Be good, be good’. Pretty quickly, the crowd up by the green just went nuts. I knew the celebration was too much for just a good shot. I knew it went in.”

Travis Smyth during the second round of the British Open.Credit: Getty

Australians Jason Day and Min Woo Lee surged into contention in the second round of the final men’s major of the year.

Day (67) and Lee (68) are in a tie for fourth at four under, but six shots adrift of runaway leader Brian Harman (65) of the US.

“Even though I’ve played great for the most part of the year, I haven’t played well in the majors and it’s been a little frustrating for me,” Day said.

“If I can get one here this week, that will definitely change it.

“It is the Open Championship, so if we do get some pretty average weather, it’ll bring a lot of guys back in or at least give them a chance at shooting up the leaderboard pretty quick on tomorrow’s round and then, obviously, Sunday as well.”

Defending champion Cameron Smith (two over) scraped inside the cut line with an eagle on the 18th hole of his second round, with Adam Scott (three over) making the weekend on the number with a 73.

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