Harman waits for a hole-in-one - then two come along
Brian Harman of the United States poses after his round was complete after making hole-in-one's on both the third and 14th holes
Brian Harman never had a hole-in-one in 121 PGA Tour events but at The Barclays yesterday he made up for lost time by achieving the rare feat of posting a pair of aces during the final round.
The American left-hander hit a seven-iron from 183 yards at the third hole, and struck a four-hybrid from 218 yards into the cup on 14 for his second hole-in-one to become only the third player ever to enjoy that double in a PGA Tour event.
"That was pretty wild," said Harman, who had five bogeys on his card to shoot 68 and finish at two-under 278.
"It's pretty crazy to play a hundred-some-odd tournaments and never have one, but to have two in the same tournament is pretty awesome."
Harman matched the feat previously accomplished by Japan's Yusaku Miyazato at the Barracuda Championship in 2006, and by U.S. amateur Bill Whedon at the 1955 Insurance City Open. Harman's aces raised the total to 40 holes-in-one this season on the PGA Tour.
The 28-year-old Georgian, whose lone tour victory came at John Deere Classic last year, began the day 11 shots off the lead.
"I'd trade both of them to be in contention," said Harman, who finished 17 shots behind runaway winner Jason Day as he romped to a six-shot victory on 19 under ahead of second-placed Henrik Stenson.
On the European Tour, Belgium's Thomas Pieters made history as he claimed his maiden European Tour title, clinching the Czech Masters in Prague with a three-shot victory.
The 23-year-old's triumph made him the youngest Belgian to win in European Tour history, aged 23 years and 215 days as he beat Philippe Toussaint's previous record of 25 years and 48 days when he won the 1974 Benson and Hedges Festival.
Overnight leader Pieters, who turned pro two years ago, recorded a final round 69 - after recovering from a double bogey on the front nine - which included five birdies as he sealed a 20 under par win.
Three shots further back at the Albatross Golf Resort, closest competitor Pelle Edberg, who trailed by one shot after the third round, recorded birdies on the first, second and ninth holes, but bogeys on the third and 11th saw him finish with 71 on 17 under.
