Playing partners David Lewis, 64, and Rob Davis, 67, both hit hole-in-ones on the 137-yard 15th at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. (David Lewis via SWNS)
By Isobel Williams
A pair of golfing pals landed back-to-back holes-in-one on the same par-three — a 156-million-to-one feat.
David Lewis, 64, and Rob Davis, 67, both hit pitching wedges on the 107-yard 15th at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
They couldn't see where their balls landed but upon reaching the green decided to look in the hole — and couldn't believe their eyes.
The friends of more than 30 years took some photos to remember the moment before celebrating with lunch and drinks at the clubhouse.
After doing some research, they believe the chances of two amateur golfers achieving back-to-back holes-in-one on the same hole are around one in 156 million.
David, who works as a property finder for Phil Spencer's company, said: "We were having a nice day. Some mates were playing with us.
"We walked up and looked in the hole and there were two balls just sitting in the hole. It was remarkable really.
The two golf balls in the hole together. (David Lewis via SWNS)
"I think the thing we both find stunning about this is not the fact that we holed in one, but the fact we are good friends and we did it together. It was a great day."
Rob, a retired international risk and insurance worker, added: "We couldn't see our golf balls. There was no sign of either of them. My natural assumption was that mine had hit the pole and spun off.
"It was quite surreal that not one but two had gone in one shot after the other.
"It was absolutely incredible. You don't expect it. It is so weird, I am still struggling to grasp it."
David, a dad of two who lives on the premises of Royal Liverpool — also known as Hoylake — says he has achieved a hole-in-one in the past, around 15 years ago.
The golf lover, who has been playing since he was a child, started to properly love the sport in his 30s and plays around twice a week.
He says that he was using a Srixon ball at the time of the shot, which is an unusual choice for him, adding to the shock of the moment.
Rob, from West Kirby, took up golf in his 50s and plays once a week.
He says that the 15th at Hoylake — known as Little Eye — is usually quite tricky due to the wind, and he was thrilled to get his first hole-in-one there.
The scorecard marking the back-to-back hole-in-ones. (David Lewis via SWNS)
Since telling friends and family about their achievement, the pair say people have been left in disbelief.
David said: "We have both been inundated with messages from different parts of the country. People were asking me to go and buy them a lottery ticket.
"I am more excited about it now than I probably was at the time. It suddenly dawned on me over the last couple of days what an incredible achievement it was.
"The statistics are crazy. Two pairs doing it back-to-back on the same hole is one in 156 million."
Rob added: "It was a fantastic moment for me and David. Doing it once on your own totally has to be different from doing it with a friend.
"People just found it incredible in a way. You really don't expect to get a hole-in-one at all but to do it this way is just so weird. It is probably not going to sink in for a long time.
"It was a double dose of perfection."
Royal Liverpool is one of Britain's most prestigious courses, and has held the Open 13 times — most recently in 2023.
David and Rob say they believe the chances of an amateur achieving a hole-in-one is 12,500-to-one. Multiplied together, this gives odds of 156 million-to-one.