The Open: Watch Austin Connelly bag an eagle at the par-four second
Last Updated: 22/07/17 9:17pm
Canadian Austin Connelly made his mark during the third round of The Open with an eagle at the second hole at Royal Birkdale.
The 20-year-old made a flying start to his round by birdieing the opening hole and he went one better at the 427-yard second.
After hitting an excellent drive down the middle of the fairway at the par four, Connelly stepped up for his second shot with a nine iron which he struck perfectly.
The ball bounced once on the green and then straight into the hole to send the youngster shooting further up the leaderboard.
Connelly said afterwards: "I actually shouldn't be able to get that club to the hole. It was 145 yards into the breeze off the right and I just hit a really solid nine iron, as good as I can hit it, and as good a result as I can get too. So it's nice."
Connelly, who is ranked 524th in the world and came through a play-off in qualifying to secure a place in his first major, had started the day one under for the tournament following rounds of 67 and 72, but his excellent start took him to four under and within sight of the lead.
He subsequently dropped shots at the third and eighth but recovered with birdies at the ninth, 17th and 18th to finish with a four-under 66 which put him in a share of third place with Brooks Koepka on five under.
He added: "I tried my very hardest to not let it [the eagle] get to me, to keep more of a straight face and keep pressing on.
"I told my caddie on the next tee 'that never happened'. There was so much golf left after that. I just had to keep my head down, keep moving forward and I did a very good job of that. I'm very happy with my round today.
"I'm very comfortable out here. I really like the golf course and I feel it suits my game."
Click on the video above to see Connelly's eagle!