Ryan Fox makes hole-in-one on iconic 17th island green at TPC Sawgrass as he hits back-to-back eagles in a superb opening round at The Players Championship in Florida

It took just a few hours for this year’s Players Championship to get its first hole-in-one as Ryan Fox stepped up and drained his tee shot on the iconic 17th hole.

The water around the famous hole, which boasts a perilous island green, has claimed plenty of balls over the years but Fox wasn’t fazed.

The New Zealander stepped up to the 124-yard, par three and hit his tee shot to the middle of the green before it rolled down the hill and into the hole.

It meant Fox, a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, became the first player on record to make back-to-back eagles at holes 16 and 17 at the tournament.

Moments before his ace, Fox hit his 180-yard approach shot on 16 to within two feet before finishing off for a three at the par-five. 

Fox sent the crowd wild around the 17th hole as he went and collected his ball from the hole

There were three holes-in-one on the 17th hole last year with Aaron Rai, Alex Smalley and Hayden Buckley all completing the feat.

Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele lead the way at Sawgrass after the morning wave on Thursday.

The Northern Irishman made six birdies on the first nine holes, including capitalizing on a delicious tee shot of his own on 17.

McIlroy, who has missed the cut in two of the three Players since his 2019 win, finished on seven-under for the day.

World No. 1 Scott Scheffler teed off later on Thursday as he looks to maintain his good form with another win this week.