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NYT Daily • August 26, 2025

___ in the hole

Answer:

ACE

Hint:

A perfect serve or a golf score of one might fit this three-letter term.

Explanation:

This clue plays on a common golf phrase where "ace in the hole" refers to a hole-in-one, meaning the ball lands in the cup with a single stroke. The blank asks for the word that fits before "in the hole," and "ace" is the golf term for that perfect shot. It’s also a clever pun since "ace" can mean something excellent or a playing card, but here it’s purely about golf.

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