‘I just notched a hole-in-one at The Open but I’d rather win a million dollars’

Travis Smyth notched an ace at the ‘little eye’ 17th at The Open – but he’d still rather win a million dollars.

The Australian got the first hole-in-one at this year’s Open on the notoriously difficult new hole at Hoylake during his second round. But the former LIV golfer, who pocketed a million dollars at the first event of the controversial tour, said the ace didn’t top his big-money earning. When asked what was better, he said: “That's a tough one. Probably a million dollars.”

Smyth caused an almighty roar that was heard throughout the course when his tee shot found the hole on the 17th. And he had to leave some kids on the 18th green disappointed when they asked for his ball at the end of the round.

He added: “Yeah, it was really, really loud. It was awesome. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have known it went in. You couldn't see it. You couldn't probably see half of the flagstick.

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“It was cool. I almost hit the same ball down 18, but with the out of bounds just there I thought I should change balls and leave that ball with a good memory. I kept the ball, yeah. A few kids asked for it, but I felt bad I needed to keep that one.”

Despite his memorable ace, Smyth has missed the halfway cut after carding a seven-over-par 78 on Thursday. Despite that disappointment, he was pleased to bow out of the tournament with a respectable 72.

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Smyth was playing his first major after qualifying via a third-placed finish at an Asian Tour event in Hong Kong. Prior to that, his best-remembered outing in an event involving some of the elite was at the opening LIV Golf tournament at Centurion last year.

He later dropped out of the LIV line-up as the controversial Saudi-backed series recruited more high-profile names but it was a life-changing experience he looks back on fondly.

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“I got to play the first LIV event and it was unbelievable,” said Smyth, who will now return to the Asian Tour. “Ever since then, it’s changed my life, obviously, for the better financially. Professional golf is very, very expensive. Most people don’t realise that.

“Since the LIV experience I’ve been able to do my thing much more comfortably, and I’ve been better for it.”

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