Sepp Straka had a hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth hole at Pinehurst No. 2 on Friday and that was no doubt cool to see.
But Franceso Molinari one-upped him late in the day.
Playing the back nine first, Molinari stood on the tee box on the ninth hole, which was playing 194 yards, at 7 over. That had him two shots off the projected cutline.
One swing later, and Molinari booked himself a couple of weekend tee times at the 124th U.S. Open.
It was quite a sight, as Molinari hit a high cut left, his ball just barely reaching the green. But then, it started on its path toward the hole and found nothing but jar.
💥 ACE ON THE LAST TO GET INSIDE THE PROJECTED CUT! 💥@F_Molinari with the ultimate do or die moment! pic.twitter.com/XoqmvaDNpi
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
It’s the second ace of the week and the fourth one at No. 9 in U.S. Open history.
His playing partners Sergio Garcia and and Ryo Ishikawa were enjoying the moment, too.
“Yes, we saw it go in. I think from where we were standing, it looked like it just carried the bunker, plus the greens are getting firm, so it was the ideal shot,” Molinari said. “Then it started tracking, was going to break left to right at the hole, and we were joking with Serg and how it looked and on a great line the whole way, but what are the chances really. I don’t even know what to say. Just incredible.”
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Having just bogeyed the eighth hole, Molinari’s ace came at the most opportune time.
Peter Jacobsen (2005) and Zach Johnson (2014) also aced the ninth during a U.S. Open. In fact, the ninth the only hole at Pinehurst No. 2 that has surrended an ace during the U.S. Open.