Golf has its fair share of unpredictable moments, but what Dale Whitnell accomplished at the South African Open is the stuff of legends. The English golfer pulled off the nearly impossible feat of making two holes-in-one in a single round, etching his name into the DP World Tour history books.

A day of magic on the course

During his second round at Durban Country Club, Whitnell started strong with a birdie on the first hole. The magic happened on the very next hole—the par-three second—where he hit a flawless 7-iron from 185 yards that rolled straight into the cup.

That alone would have made for an unforgettable moment. But Whitnell wasn’t done yet.

Fast forward to the 12th hole, another par-three, playing at 128 yards. This time, he pulled out a 50-degree wedge and repeated the miracle—another ace. In disbelief, Whitnell described the moment: “It’s rare enough to get one in a round, so to have two is just surreal.”

His final score of 63 put him in serious contention, just a few strokes behind the tournament leader. The round featured an impressive mix of highlights, including three eagles and just two bogeys, showcasing both his skill and his ability to handle high-pressure situations.

How rare is this achievement?

To put Whitnell’s achievement into perspective, the odds of making two holes-in-one in a single round are estimated at 67 million to one. This has only happened once before on the DP World Tour, when Andrew Dodt managed the feat at the 2013 Nordea Masters.

While aces are a dream moment for any golfer, scoring two in one round is nearly unheard of—especially at the professional level. Whitnell now joins a select few who have pulled off this extraordinary accomplishment.

With this performance, he has not only left his mark on the tournament but also secured a place in golf history. His next rounds will determine if he can capitalize on this momentum and chase his first DP World Tour title.

One thing is certain—this was a day that neither Whitnell nor golf fans will ever forget.