We're not even at the halfway stage of the 2023 US Open and Los Angeles Country Club has already coughed up three holes-in-one. Mattieu Pavon made the first on day one and was followed in by Sam Burns in similar fashion, with Matt Fitzpatrick now getting in on the action.
The defending champion laboured to a one-over 71 on Thursday at LACC on an incredible day of scoring that saw Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele equal the lowest round in Major championship history, but got back under par after acing the short par-3 15th.
The Englishman was level for his round when he hit the shot of the day so far on the 115-yard hole that can be set up to play even shorter given the size of the tee and shape of the green.
Ahead of the tournament, Fitzpatrick spoke of the unique challenge it can pose but he certainly made it look easy on Friday in Hollywood as he landed the first hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career and 51st in US Open history. He will be hoping that kickstarts his defence of the title he won in such thrilling fashion last year at The Country Club.
Fitzpatrick trailed by nine coming into day two and will need to find a few more birdies to vault himself back into contention over the weekend. More shots like that will certainly help. Check it out below:
Watch: Matt Fitzpatrick's hole-in-one
🚨 DEFENDING CHAMPION ACE ALERT 🚨@MattFitz94 joins the #USOpen hole-in-one party! pic.twitter.com/x6q3nll62CJune 16, 2023
In making a hole-in-one this year to go with his win last year, Fitzpatrick joins illustrious company. According to stats guru Justin Ray, Gary Player is the only other non-American player before him to achieve that rare double in the tournament's 128-year history.
-
Monday Qualifier Outperforms Playing Partner Scottie Scheffler By Six Strokes At WM Phoenix OpenWill Chandler only secured a spot in the WM Phoenix Open via the Monday qualifier and, on Sunday, was paired with Scottie Scheffler, a player he beat by six strokes
-
Yealimi Noh Claims Maiden LPGA Tour Title At Founders CupThe 23-year-old held off two-time Major winner Jin-Young Ko in an epic final round tussle to secure a maiden LPGA Tour title at the Founders Cup
-
Rickie Fowler Withdraws From WM Phoenix OpenThe American pulled out of the event at TPC Scottsdale prior to round two, having carded a three-over 74 on Thursday
-
Reporter Shares Xander Schauffele Injury Details And Says World No.2 Has Been Struggling 'Since Late Last Year'Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis shared details on the World No.2's injury situation which caused Schauffele to withdraw from two recent PGA Tour events
-
Xander Schauffele Withdraws From American Express Days After Scottie SchefflerThe PGA Tour announced on Monday evening that the World No.2 was no longer in the American Express field and had been replaced by Philip Knowles
-
Scheffler Vs Schauffele Vs McIlroy: How The Stats CompareRory McIlroy said Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have ‘separated themselves’ so we looked at the stats…
-
What Else Does Xander Schauffele Need To Do In Order To Win Player Of The Year? The World No.2 Has An Idea...The World No.2 won two Major championships over the past 12 months, but even still, he admitted Scottie Scheffler stood head and shoulders above the rest...
-
‘I Can’t Believe I’m Saying This’ - PGA Tour Pros On Scheffler Vs Schauffele Player Of The Year DebatePGA Tour players have been casting their votes on who has had the better season between Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele
-
Xander Schauffele Admits He Is Still ‘Very Far Away’ From Scottie Scheffler Despite Winning Majors Battle In 2024Schauffele won two Majors compared to Scheffler's one in 2024, but the best player in the world has far more total victories this season
-
How Much Money Has Xander Schauffele's Caddie Austin Kaiser Earned In 2024?Austin Kaiser has likely earned a significant amount of money this season as a result of Schauffele's double-Major-winning campaign
