Ryder Cup 2023: Viktor Hovland makes hole-in-one on par 4(!) during practice round

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The roars have already started at the 2023 Ryder Cup—and play doesn’t officially begin for another day.

That’s because Viktor Hovland pulled off a rare feat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club on Thursday. His teammates just wish he had saved it for the actual competition.

During a final practice round, Hovland didn’t just drive the green on the short par-4 fifth hole—he knocked his tee shot in the hole for an incredible ace. Fortunately, the cameras were rolling:

Amazing. And have a look at this video captured by a fan:

As you can see, Hovland didn’t see the ball go in, but had to rely on the fans around the green. But then he and some of his teammates briefly celebrated as if they had just won the Ryder Cup. What a scene. And again, it’s only Thursday.

There have only been six holes-in-one in Ryder Cup history, most recently by Paul Casey in 2006. But there has only been one hole-in-one on a par 4 in PGA Tour history, Andrew Magee’s famed bank shot at the 2001 Phoenix Open.

So can you imagine if this had actually happened during competion? It might have produced the biggest roar in golf history. Anyway, the reigning FedEx Cup champ looks like he’s still pretty locked in.

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com