Tour Pro Breaks Impressive 27 Year Major Record At US Senior Open

Having led the field going into the final round at Newport Country Club, Hiroyuki Fujita managed to break a long-standing record in the process...

Hiroyuki Fujita strikes an iron shot from the middle of the fairway
(Image credit: Getty Images)

As we all know, keeping the ball in play in golf is crucial if you're going to fire a low score. If you hit the ball wayward, chances are you aren't going to create many birdies...

If you need further proof, then why not check out Hiroyuki Fujita, who currently leads the 2024 US Senior Open at Newport Country Club, with the Japanese player breaking a record in the process!

As the video above shows, Fujita managed to hit 32 consecutive fairways at the third men's senior Major of 2024, with his tee shot at the second hole finding the short grass to bypass the record that has stood since 1997.

What's more, Fujita continued his fairway hitting numbers further, as he found the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th to keep the streak going at an incredible 38, before play was eventually suspended due to a dangerous weather situation.

As of writing, and with play still suspended, Fujita has six holes remaining which are par fours and fives, so his record could, in theory, stretch to 44, which would decimate the previous record of 32. 

Hiroyuki Fujita hits a driver

Fujita during the final round of the US Senior Open

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Although Fujita's record is impressive, he still has some way to go to beat Adam Long's PGA Tour record of 69 consecutive fairways hit. Long achieved the feat in 2023, and the record included hitting 56 of 56 fairways at the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico.

However, it's unlikely that Fujita will care much about the fairway record, especially as the 18-time Japan Golf Tour winner is three strokes clear of recent Senior PGA Championship champion, Richard Bland. Fujita sits at 16-under and is searching for, arguably, the biggest win of his established career.

Having featured in the world's top-50 before, Fujita's first professional victory came all the way back in 1997, with the Japanese star's most successful year coming in 2012, when he won four tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour. He went on to finish the season as the leading money winner and was voted the most valuable player.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x