Patrick Reed makes history with rare shot at U.S. Open

Patrick Reed. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Watch: Patrick Reed makes history with ultra-rare shot at U.S. Open

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 8:52 AM ET

The first round of the 2025 U.S. Open is barely wrapped up, but there's a good chance we won't see a moment for the rest of this weekend that tops what Patrick Reed was able to accomplish at the fourth hole.

Fittingly, Reed is an American golfer playing at the U.S. Open, and he hit a perfect shot on his second attempt from the fairway on the fourth hole. The result was a 286-yard heat-seeking missile that went straight into the cup for a "double eagle."

What could be more American than that on this Father's Day weekend?

It looked like this:

PATRICK REED ALBATROSS AT THE U.S. OPEN

(via @usopengolf)pic.twitter.com/GFFgAD8od7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 12, 2025

A "double eagle" is also known as an "albatross." In golf terms, it's when a player finishes the hole three strokes under par.

Hole four at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club is a par-5, meaning that Reed finished the hole in an impressive two strokes.

It goes down as only the fourth "albatross" in U.S. Open history. Reed joins Nick Watney (2012), Shaun Micheel (2010) and T.C. Chen (1985) in that historic feat.

Notably, a wandering albatross in nature can have a wingspan that measures up to 12 feet across, which makes it the largest bird on Earth as far as wingspan is concerned.

As such, the "double eagle" or "albatross" seems aptly named. Only a hole-in-one could outdo it this weekend.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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