US Open 2019: Rory Sabbatini fires hole-in-one at Pebble Beach
Friday 14 June 2019 16:31, UK
Rory Sabbatini produced a moment of US Open magic with a stunning hole-in-one during the opening round at Pebble Beach.
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The Slovakian was two over after back-to-back bogeys from the ninth but quickly returned to red figures after following a birdie at the 11th with a piece of brilliance at the par-three 12th.
Sabbatini's tee shot on the 202-yard hole cleared the bunker and pitched 10 feet from the flag, before taking two bounces and dunking straight into the hole for an unlikely ace.
The hole-in-one is the first in the US Open since Zach Johnson made one during the final round of the 2014 contest at Pinehurst, with the ace the eighth made in US Opens at Pebble Beach and 45th in the tournament's history.
"I can't remember what the exact number was, but I just hit as high a five-iron as I could up in the air with a high cut," he explained afterwards. "Landed, one bounce, into the hole - that's what I was told.
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"I'm not sure exactly, as I'm not that tall, so I can't really see over the bunker that well. I just hit it absolutely perfect, and we hit it close to the previous hole. I told my caddie, we've been having a lot of close calls, and one is going to go in sooner or later, but wasn't expecting that."
Sabbatini eventually signed for a one-over 72 after bogeys at the 14th and 16th.
Click on the video above to see Sabbatini's stunning ace!
Watch the US Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf.
