Peter Hanson just clinched a spot for himself a spot at the US Open after he made a hole-in-one in Sunningdale, grabbing the 11th spot in Monday’s European qualifier. Seven golfers played for the five spots in the playoff and Jose Manuel Lara, Jean Lucqui, Johan Edfors and Francesco Molinari secured their spots with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Hanson, Richard Bland and Stephen Gallacher were left to compete for the last spot, but it was Hanson’s simple switch of clubs that made the win. Hanson had switched from a 5-iron to a 6-iron club for the 206-year hole and this seemed to have made the difference.
“This game is just so stupid sometimes. Obviously, I am delighted to get through, but to do it like that is unbelievable. We were between clubs on the tee, but I thought that I would go for a full 6-iron and play for the middle of the green. You need a bit of luck with any hole-in-one, and I got my share today.”
Others who grabbed a spot at the US Open include Thomas Levet, Andrew McLardy and David Horsey. This will be Levet’s second trip to a major, with his first one when he worked as a golf commentator for French TV.