Aussie’s stunning British Open ace, champion Smith hanging on by a thread

Australia’s Travis Smyth has enjoyed a memorable finale to his debut British Open, celebrating a spectacular hole-in-one at the 17th at Royal Liverpool.

The 28-year-old from Shellharbour, NSW, was on his way to missing the cut with two holes to play when he went out in a blaze of glory, striking the tournament’s first ace in Friday’s second round.

On the controversial new 132-yard par-three 17th, designed to create more late drama in the Open at Hoylake, Smyth’s tee shot with a nine-iron took one bounce on the green and rolled into the hole, much to his astonishment and…