‘I’d rather have trophies than golf balls’: Rory McIlroy wasn’t sentimental after PGA Tour ace
By Matt Chivers
Of all the hole-in-ones made in PGA Tour history, it’s incredible to think Rory McIlroy wasn’t part of that list until yesterday.
In fact, a Rory McIlroy hole-in-one on television is very hard to come by.
His perfect 5-iron from 214 yards on the eighth hole at TPC River Highlands rolled into the hole and raised the roof in the first round of the Travelers Championship.
After 3,253 attempts on par 3s in his tour career, McIlroy finally made an ace. His first in competition came at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour in 2015.
However, there’s no time for sentiment in the world of a four-time major champion and a 23-time tour winner as he aims to add to his trophy tally in Connecticut this week.
Can you believe this is Rory’s first PGA Tour ace 😱 https://t.co/HwgAfZ2jzX
— National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) June 22, 2023
“As holes-in-one go, I’ve had them in the past where it has been an ok shot and you get a little lucky,” McIlroy said. “That was the best shot of the day that I hit.
“I had one in Abu Dhabi, I’ve had one here. They’re the only two I’ve had in competition as a pro. I’ve had a ton in practice and casual rounds.
“(I) threw it away.
“I’m not sentimental. I don’t care. I’d rather have trophies than golf balls.”
The Northern Irishman finished the day on 2-under-par and eight shots behind Denny McCarthy, who unfortunately lost in a playoff to Viktor Hovland at the Memorial Tournament earlier this month.
McIlroy’s packed schedule brought him to make his fifth career appearance at the Travelers Championship, having finished agonisingly short of Wyndham Clark at the US Open in Los Angeles.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
