Sweden's Hedblom notches 40th ace in U.S. Open history

Peter Hedblom had an eagle eye Saturday at the U.S. Open. First, the Swede holed a 3-iron from 238 yards for a hole-in-one on the third hole at Winged Foot. Moments later he dropped a long putt for eagle on the fifth hole to climb into contention.

MAMARONECK, N.Y. (AP) -- Peter Hedblom of Sweden had the 40th hole-in-one in U.S. Open history when he aced the 238-yard 3rd hole at Winged Foot on Saturday. He added a more conventional eagle two holes later.

The 36-year-old PGA European Tour veteran parred the first two holes in the third round, then came up with first ace of this tournament when his 3-iron tee shot bounced short of the green, took two more hops and rolled into the cup.

Hedblom pumped his fist and high-fived his caddie and playing partner Stewart Cink.

When he reached the green he picked the ball out of the cup, kissed it and threw into the grandstand.

"It was pretty special to make a hole-in-one," he said. "I'll always remember that, when I'm sitting there at (age) 80."

The eagle dropped him to 4 over for the tournament. After parring No. 4, Hedblom came up with his second eagle of the round when he dropped a long putt for a 3 on the 515-yard fifth.

But after completing the front nine in 3-under 32, he finished with a 1-over 71 for a 217 total.

"It's just sad I couldn't finish it off," he said.

No. 3 played at 216 yards for the first two rounds and was the sixth hardest in scoring over the 36 holes at 3.38. The back tee was being used for the last two rounds.

"You'd take a 3. It's one of the toughest holes we play," Hedblom said. "But it just ran in the hole. It was very emotional out there."

This is Hedblom's second U.S. Open. He finished tied for 11th last year.

The last hole-in-one in the U.S. Open was by Peter Jacobsen last year on the 175-yard ninth in the third round at Pinehurst.

This is the fifth U.S. Open played at Winged Foot and Hedblom's was the second hole-in-one. Mark McCumber aced No. 10 in 1984.

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