PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Luke Poulter turned Cypress Point into his personal highlight reel Thursday during Walker Cup preparations.
The 20-year-old Englishman holed out twice in his first three holes, including a hole-in-one at the par-3 third, and nearly recorded another ace later in the round at the par-3 15th.
Poulter’s magical day began at the par-4 first, where he spun back a 56-degree wedge from 110 yards for an eagle. He followed with an alternate-shot birdie at the second before stepping up to the third tee last among his Great Britain and Ireland teammates.
“A smooth 9-iron,” Poulter said of the shot he holed from 155 yards.
It was Poulter’s first legitimate ace, though he has what he calls a “controversial” one in his past.
“I do have a controversial ace,” he revealed.
That questionable hole-in-one came during a practice round for the 2023 Georgetown Intercollegiate at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. Poulter flared a tee ball right and lost sight of it as it flew into an overhanging tree.
“We couldn’t find the ball, and then everyone is chipping around, someone walks up and my ball’s in the hole,” Poulter said. “No one saw it, so I’ve never claimed to have a hole-in-one. [Florida head coach] J.C. [Deacon] always says you can never count it.”
Now, Poulter can claim his first ace at one of the most iconic golf courses in the world. He nearly had a second, too, sticking a 52-degree wedge from 127 yards to a foot short of the hole at the cliffside 15th.
“I thought I slam-dunked it as I hit it,” Poulter said. “Just one of those days, I guess.”
