Francesco Molinari's Miraculous Hole-in-One Seals Weekend Spot at U.S. Open

Francesco Molinari's long-awaited break at a major came in dramatic fashion on Friday, with a hole-in-one on the final hole of his second round at the U.S. Open, salvaging his weekend at the tournament.

Francesco Molinari's recent struggles in major championships have been well-documented. The 2018 Open Champion had missed the cut in eight of his last 11 majors, including each of the last five. This weekend's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 seemed poised to follow suit.

Entering Friday's second round, Molinari faced an uphill battle to make the cut. Teeing off on the back nine, he carded a disappointing 40 on his front nine, putting him two shots back of the projected cut line and 5-over for the tournament.

Francesco Molinari's Miraculous Hole-in-One Seals Weekend Spot at U.S. Open

On his second nine, Molinari's fate seemed sealed. Despite a birdie on the par-4 16th, he bogeyed the par-3 17th, leaving him needing an eagle on the par-5 18th to avoid missing the weekend.

However, Molinari's iron shot on the 18th hole took an incredible turn of events. As he addressed the ball, he knew that anything less than an ace would likely result in a missed cut. With impeccable timing and a touch of luck, his iron shot rolled perfectly into the cup, securing him a dramatic hole-in-one.

Francesco Molinari's Miraculous Hole-in-One Seals Weekend Spot at U.S. Open

The ace sent Molinari from 7-over to 5-over, putting him right at the projected cut line (top-60 and ties). It marked the second hole-in-one of the day at Pinehurst, after Sepp Straka aced the ninth hole earlier in the day.

Molinari's miraculous shot was met with disbelief from his playing partners, longtime Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia and Ryo Ishikawa, who embraced him in celebration. It was an emotional moment for Molinari, who had not played a weekend at a major since the 2022 Open Championship, where he finished tied for 15th.

Francesco Molinari's Miraculous Hole-in-One Seals Weekend Spot at U.S. Open

Molinari's hole-in-one was a testament to his perseverance and resilience. After collapsing at the 2019 Masters, he has struggled to regain the form that saw him win at Carnoustie. However, this weekend's performance has given him a renewed sense of hope.

Despite Molinari not being the dominant force he was after his major victory nearly six years ago, his miraculous hole-in-one has ensured that he will have quite a story to tell about Pinehurst No. 2. As the weekend unfolds, Molinari will be hoping to continue his momentum and make a run at a top finish, proving that he is still a force to be reckoned with in major championships.