Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both made a hole-in-one in the opening round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Starting on the back nine at Spyglass Hill, world number three McIlroy achieved the second ace of his PGA Tour career at the par-three 15th.

“It’s such an elevated tee that the ball’s in the air and you know it’s online but you don’t know whether to say ‘go!’ or ‘sit!’ or ‘spin’ or ‘release’,” the Northern Irishman said.

“You’re looking at it and you’re watching where it might land on the green and the thing just disappears.

“It was a good swing, a good wedge shot and it was obviously a nice little moment.”

Later on Thursday, Ireland’s Shane Lowry emulated his Ryder Cup team-mate with a hole-in-one at the famous seventh at Pebble Beach.

The opening two rounds of the event are split across the Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill courses.

McIlroy and Lowry finished the first round tied for eighth after six-under-par 66s, two shots off the lead held by Russell Henley of the United States.

McIlroy watched as his effort went straight in the 119-yard hole off the flag, without touching the green, and he celebrated with playing partner Ludvig Aberg, as well as amateurs Jeff Rhodes and Jimmy Dunne and the caddies.

McIlroy’s previous hole-in-one on the PGA Tour was at the Travelers Championship in 2023.

Lowry’s magical moment was a third ace on the PGA Tour for the 2019 Open champion. His tee shot landed on the green and rolled into the hole, prompting him to jump into the air in disbelief.

Lowry’s previous holes-in-one were at the Masters in 2016 and the Players Championship in 2022.

Henley will take a one-shot lead into the second round, with England’s Justin Rose part of a six-strong chasing pack behind the leader.

World number one Scottie Scheffler made his return to action after requiring surgery for a “stupid” hand injury he sustained on Christmas Day.

After two months out, the American is three shots behind Henley after a five-under 67.