Rory McIlroy made personal history with PGA Tour first at Travelers Championship but snubbing event this week

Jun 25, 2026 - 12:45

Rory McIlroy is not at the Travelers Championship this week and it would have been hard to beat his 2023 feat even if he was teeing it up.

McIlroy has decided against heading back to TPC River Highlands for the final PGA Tour Signature Event of the season.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts to a shot on the fourth hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 16, 2026 — McIlroy made personal history at the Travelers in 2023

He came T6 at the event last year but is yet to win it.

One of his best performances in Cromwell, Connecticut came in 2023 and one special moment will always be among the Northern Irishman’s best memories.

During the first day of the Travelers three years ago, McIlroy achieved something he had never done before in his career – sinking a hole-in-one on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy struck a perfect 215-yard tee shot on the par-three eighth hole at TPC River Highlands, landing it a few yards shy of the hole.

The ball then rolled directly towards the cup, as commentators shouted: “Do it Rory, do it!”

And it dropped for an ace, with McIroy lifting his arms aloft in joy as he celebrated back at the tee box.

After sharing his celebrations with his caddie and others at the eighth, he turned to acknowledge the joyous fans behind him.

The hole-in-one came at just the right time too, as he had struggled with his putter, bogeying two holes to go over-par beforehand.

Speaking about his first ever ace on the PGA Tour, McIlroy said: “Five-iron to 215 yards, slightly back into the wind off the right.

“As hole-in-ones go, I’ve had them in the past where it has been an okay shot and you get a little lucky.

McIlroy perfectly sent his tee shot 214 yards on the eighth hole

It bounced close to hole and rolled ever closer

The ball then dropped in for his first-ever ace on the PGA Tour

“That was the best shot of the day that I hit. Obviously a bonus for it to go in the hole, but it was really cool.

“I played pretty averagely up until that point and felt like that hole-in-one got me going a little bit.”

McIlroy followed the ace up with a birdie at the ninth at TPC River Highlands before going on to drop some shots late in his round.

The 36-year-old went on to finish the tournament T7 on -18, with Keegan Bradley winning the Travelers at -23.

McIlroy achieved his second hole-in-one on the PGA Tour in January last year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

McIlroy’s second ace came earlier this year at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am

The low-scoring course at TPC River Highlands brings plenty of birdie chances and certainly increases the chances of an ace.

Despite McIlroy not being in the field, there are still plenty of stars on show at the $20million Signature Event this week.

US Open champion Wyndham Clark is headlining the action alongside World No1 Scottie Scheffler.

Shane Lowry, fresh from sacking his caddie, is in the field alongside the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Thomas and Ludvig Aberg.

Play gets up and running at 1:15pm each day and talkSPORT 2 will have live commentary throughout the week.