Patrick Reed Achieves Rare Albatross at U.S. Open

Golf history was made by Patrick Reed when he hit the elusive, mystical and very rare Albatross during the U.S. Open. This astonishing accomplishment is truly an extraordinary chapter in the tournament’s history. This amazing accomplishment occurred during play on the par-5 fourth hole at Oakmont. Photo courtesy PGA Tour Latinoamerica Reed’s second shot was even more remarkable considering he hit it from an astounding 286 yards.

The Albatross is a rarity both in nature and the game of golf. As players get this amazing shot few hundreds times per year around the world. In sharp relief, more than 30,000 holes-in-one are reported every year. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images Reed’s now in an elite company of players. Since records started at the U.S. Open in 1983, only a handful of players have accomplished an Albatross at the U.S. Open.

With this accomplishment, Reed joins an elite list of only three other players who have recorded an Albatross in U.S. Open history. He joins the ranks of T.C. Chen, who did the same at Oakland Hills in 1985, Shaun Micheel, who accomplished the same feat at Pebble Beach in 2010, and Nick Watney, who did the same thing at Olympic in 2012. This small but accomplished group serves to show just how rare and impressive Reed’s accomplishment really is.

Reed’s unreal hole-in-one was a testament to his prodigious talent. It returned the excitement that often accompanies those scarce, once-in-a-lifetime happenings in the sport. A year ago, he struck a 3-wood to the green at Oakmont. That ball rolled three times before it decided to drop into the hole, cementing his legacy in the game of golf. The moment had players and fans both shocked and excited, proving once again just how wild and wonderful football can be.

The U.S. Open has been the stage for some of the greatest golf performances. Reed’s Albatross adds a thrilling new chapter to its storied past. As he celebrated this achievement, discussions arose about the rarity of such shots and their significance in professional golf.