U.S. Open: Shane Lowry cards first tournament eagle ever at Oakmont's fearsome No. 3

Andy Lyons via Getty Images

OAKMONT, Pa. — The thing about golf is, one single swing can turn around your entire day. Shane Lowry was butchering Oakmont through his first round at the U.S. Open ... and then he turned around and pulled off one of the most impressive shots in Oakmont history. 

Through his first 11 holes, Lowry was +6, in danger of ejecting himself from the entire tournament before the afternoon wave even saw the course. And then came the par-4 3rd, where Lowry put his tee shot in the vicinity of the famed Church Pews. He stood 160 yards from the pin, and then stepped up and did this:

You can tell he didn't want to smile, but he couldn't resist. 

Oakmont opened in 1904, has hosted the U.S. Open nine times — this being the 10th — and had never surrendered an eagle on the 3rd in any of those tournaments ... until today. Regardless of how his U.S. Open finishes out, Lowry can claim that honor.

It's the latest in a spectacular run of hole-outs for Lowry, who has perhaps the most spectacular hole-in-one resume in history:

• The 16th at Augusta National

• The 17th at Sawgrass

• The 7th at Pebble Beach

... and now, this record-setting jar at Oakmont. Not a bad little run there.