Sam Burns makes Thursday’s second ace on No. 15 at U.S. Open

Sam Burns, a five-time PGA TOUR winner, added to the excitement at the U.S. Open by scoring the second hole-in-one of the day on the par-3 15th hole at The Los Angeles Country Club. This remarkable feat came after Frenchman Matthieu Pavon had already achieved an ace earlier in the tournament. Notably, this was Burns' first hole-in-one in his PGA TOUR career and it occurred during his national championship.

Burns executed a brilliant shot using a sand wedge, landing the ball a few feet short of the hole. It bounced just past and spun back, hitting the flag square-on and effortlessly dropping into the cup. Overwhelmed with joy, Burns threw his wedge in the air and gestured to the crowd, who responded with excitement. The enthusiastic Hollywood fans were more than willing to join the celebration.

Starting his round on the 10th hole, Burns had a mixed start with a bogey on the 12th hole followed by a birdie on the 14th. As he approached the challenging par-3 15th, which can play as short as 78 yards, he found a favorable hole location for the opening round. With one swing, Burns improved his score to 2-under for the day, aiming to contend for his first major title.

Burns has previously won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, securing his fifth TOUR title earlier in March. This marks his fifth appearance at the U.S. Open, with his best finish being tied for 27th place last year. His highest achievement in a major tournament was a tie for 20th at the previous year's PGA Championship.

The 15th hole has witnessed several impressive moments during Thursday's round, as Rickie Fowler set a new U.S. Open single-round scoring record with an 8-under 62, a record later matched by Xander Schauffele just minutes later. Burns continued to perform well, maintaining the positive momentum throughout the day.

Overall, Burns' hole-in-one on the 15th hole added to the excitement and memorable moments of the U.S. Open. With his impressive performance and previous victories, he remains a strong contender in the tournament.