GOLF: Luck of the Irish! Lowry aces par-three sixth hole at Masters

Shane Lowry produced one of the moments of the 2026 Masters on Saturday with a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth during the third round at Augusta National.

Lowry threaded a seven-iron into the 190-yard hole known as Juniper and his ball hit the green, took a couple of bounces and curled into the left side of the cup to send the gathered patrons into raptures.

The Irishman's reaction was instant and uninhibited — he leaned back, punched both fists skyward and then threw his arms around playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and caddie Darren Reynolds in a joyous embrace.

"You don't ever expect to make a hole-in-one. I just couldn't believe it," said Lowry. "Obviously, you know, you're out there, and you're in the hunt at the Masters and you're making hole-in-one, it's pretty cool."

After retrieving his ball from the cup, Lowry milked the moment further, teasing the crowd with a mock throw before pocketing the souvenir with a grin.

The ace moved the 2019 British Open champion to eight-under for the week and vaulted him into in a tie for second place — four shots behind overnight leader Rory McIlroy.

He went on to post a four-under-par 68 that brought him to nine-under on the week, leaving him in fourth place and two shots behind co-leaders McIlroy and Cameron Young.

Lowry is the first player to hit two aces at the Masters, having also carded a hole-in-one at the par-three 16th in 2016.

His latest hole-in-one is the first at the Masters since Stewart Cink's ace at the 16th in 2022 and the 35th in tournament history.

-Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, Georgia, editing by Pritha Sarkar and Peter Rutherford/Reuters