It’s hard to lament the timing of a hole-in-one, but at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, everything is more exciting at the par-3 16th, also known as the stadium hole at TPC Scottsdale. Alas, when J.B. Holmes made an ace in the opening round, it came at the par-3 fourth, not the 16th.
Still, the early hole-out erased a double-bogey at the second hole and helped Holmes chart a path to the clubhouse lead early in the day. He became the first player to make a hole-in-one at No. 4 since 2007.
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Holmes, who also got considerable TV time at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open when he drew a final-round pairing alongside Tiger Woods, opened with 7-under 64.
At the fourth hole, which checked in at 175 yards, he chose a 7-iron for his tee shot. When he walked away with the hole-in-one, it helped Holmes on his way to quite the rollercoaster round. After a double, a bogey, two birdies and the hole-in-one on the front, he straightened things out for the second half of his round.
Holmes closed with six birdies on his back nine and, oh yeah, one of those just happened to be in front of the crowd at No. 16.
