Plot twist at the US Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina, as Francesco Molinari pulls off a spectacular “hole in one” on his final hole, thus making the cut and keeping alive his slim hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
With a precise shot from 194 yards (approximately 177 meters) using a 7-iron, the Turin native notched the 53rd hole-in-one in US Open history, marking his third such feat on the PGA Tour after the 2015 Phoenix Open (third round) and the 2019 Arnold Palmer (first round), where he clinched the title.
Molinari, results
Molinari, starting from the 10th hole, found himself at 57th place midway through the tournament with a score of 145 (+5), alongside top-ranked player Scottie Scheffler. Meanwhile, Ludvig Aberg leads the third major of 2024 with a score of 135 (-5), aiming to become the first player since 1913 (Francis Ouimet) to win the US Open on debut.
Aberg is one shot ahead of Californians Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay at 136 (-4) each, alongside Belgian Thomas Detry. Rory McIlroy, world number 3, sits fifth with 137 (-3), tied with Americans Tony Finau and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.
Meanwhile, notable players who failed to make the cut include Tiger Woods (147, +7), Edoardo Molinari (149, +9), and Matteo Manassero (154, +14), who returned to Major play for the first time in eight years. Francesco Molinari, born on November 8, 1982, in Turin, Italy, is a professional golfer renowned for his precision and consistency on the course.
He started playing golf at a young age under the guidance of his older brother, Edoardo Molinari, who is also a professional golfer. Molinari turned professional in 2004 and quickly made a mark on the European Tour. His breakthrough year came in 2010 when he won his first European Tour title at the Italian Open.
Since then, he has built a successful career with multiple victories both on the European Tour and internationally. One of Molinari’s career-defining moments came in 2018 when he won The Open Championship at Carnoustie, becoming the first Italian golfer to win a major championship.
His precise ball-striking and strategic play have consistently placed him among the top ranks of professional golfers worldwide. Molinari has also represented Europe in the Ryder Cup, contributing crucial points to the team’s victories, most notably in the 2018 edition where he formed a formidable partnership with Tommy Fleetwood.
Known for his calm demeanor and analytical approach to the game, Molinari continues to be a respected figure in the golfing world, admired for his technical proficiency and sportsmanship.