LOS ANGELES — Aces are running wild here at the 2023 U.S. Open.
In the early stages of Friday’s second round, defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick made the third ace of the week – and the first of his professional career – on the par-3 15th. Fitzpatrick had a delayed reaction to his ace because players can’t see the hole from the tee box, and not many fans can get near the green on No. 15 at Los Angeles Country Club.”
“Yeah, I wish it would have been louder. I wish it was a few more people,” said Fitzpatrick, the defending champion. “But, yeah, I’m surprised there’s not been as many people out as I thought this week.”
Come for the ace, stay for the reaction 😄@MattFitz94 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/cUqF64a4bW
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2023
The ace is the 51st in U.S. Open and third of the week after both Matthieu Pavon and Sam Burns made holes-in-one on the 15th on Thursday.
“As soon as I hit it I thought that it got a good chance of going close anyway. Dead center,” said Fitzpatrick, who signed for an even-par 70. “My hand was a bit sore afterward, I’ll be honest, after all the high fiving.”