The American Brian Harman, who would go on to become Open champion in 2023, became the third man to achieve the feat on the PGA Tour with two aces at the Barclays in 2015, while last year Frank Bensel Jr made back-to-back holes-in-one during the second round of the US Senior Open in Rhode Island.
The 30-year-old American, who began the day with five straight birdies, finished one shot adrift of Jim Furyk’s record of 58 after tapping in for birdie on the par-five final hole having had a 19-foot eagle putt for a 58 that skirted wide.
At one stage Whitnell, who immediately followed his first ace with an eagle, needed birdies at his final three holes to make a 59 but that quest fell apart after flying the 16th green.
There was a 59 on Thursday, though, when Jake Knapp fell just short of making PGA Tour history in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.
The Englishman Dale Whitnell made two holes-in-one during a once-in-a-lifetime round on day two of the South African Open.
