Oakmont, Pa. — Patrick Reed dunked Thursday at Oakmont’s par 5 force hole on a 3-wood Thursday, making only the fourth double eagle since the US Open held its record around 40 years ago, with his second shot from 286 to 286 yards.
Double Eagle puts the lead in 2 under after he bogeys the second hole.
However, the 2018 Masters Champion backed all of that, giving some on the next 14 holes, shooting a 3-over 73 in the opening round, including a triple bogey on the 18th.
“There are 71 other holes we have to play,” he said when asked about the Albatross. “One hole doesn’t mean Jack, let’s be honest.”
The so-called Albatross is considered the rarest shot in golf, and only hundreds of people are made a year worldwide, compared to more than 30,000 holes.
Reed said it was the third in his career.
Reid looked unstable as he pounded the fairway wood into green and saw the ball bouncing back three times before rolling towards the hole. Unsure where the ball had gone, he raised his palm into the air and pointed downwards asking if it had come in.
Applause on the green gave him the answer.
“Yeah, it’s amazing. That’s great,” Reed said. “But I’m kind of sort of thing that after you’ve finished with a triple, that’s really the last thing you really think about.”
Reid joined TC Chen (1985 at Oakland Hills), Sean Missile (2010) and Nick Watney (2012) as the only players to open in the US since the event began in 1983.
This report uses information from the Associated Press.
