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It’s a wild world out there in the sports arena, especially when you’re a teen trying to make a name for yourself in golf. Mason Howell, a 17-year-old golfer, recently popped up on ‘Fox & Friends’ to spill the beans on his journey to qualifying for the 2025 U.S.
Open. And let me tell you, it’s not all sunshine and birdies; it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, skill, and the occasional stroke of luck.
Victor Perez makes history at Oakmont
Meanwhile, over at the notoriously unforgiving Oakmont golf course, French golfer Victor Perez made waves with a feat that’s almost mythical: a hole-in-one during the second round of the U.S.
Open. Talk about stealing the thunder! It was just the second recorded ace in the history of this grueling course, which is enough to make any golfer salivate with envy. Perez nailed that shot on the par-3 sixth hole with a 7-iron from a whopping 192 yards.
The ball took a couple of bounces before rolling into the cup, and you could practically hear the collective gasp from the gallery.
The celebration that followed
What’s a remarkable shot without a little bit of theatrics? An animated Perez didn’t just raise his arms in triumph; he gave his caddie a chest bump that would make any sports fan proud.
He was surrounded by his playing partners, Adam Schenk and Jacob Bridgeman, all of them basking in the moment while spectators erupted in applause. But let’s be real, hitting an ace isn’t just about skill; it’s a cocktail of talent mixed with a splash of luck.
Perez himself admitted, “Honestly, I was trying to hit something maybe 15-20 feet past the hole. Maybe it spun a little more and bounced in.”
The elusive ninth ace
For Perez, that hole-in-one marked the ninth of his career.
He reminisced about hitting two aces back in the Bahamas at his home course, but nobody believed him since he was solo at the time. “They didn’t believe me at home because I was playing by myself,” he quipped. Now, with this ace on a grand stage, there’s no doubt left in anyone’s mind. The last time Oakmont saw an ace during a U.S. Open? That was back in 1983. Scott Simpson was the lucky one back then, hitting the 16th hole in the first round. So, yeah, Perez is basically a legend at this point.
The aftermath of the ace
That stunning ace was just the spark Perez needed to recover from a rocky start in the second round. He ended up tying for sixth place at 1-over, while Sam Burns was sitting pretty at the top with a 3-under. It’s a reminder that in golf, as in life, you can start off on the wrong foot but still end up dancing. And isn’t that just a metaphor for existence? You can be down in the trenches one moment, and with a single stroke, you’re back in the game. It’s beautiful, really. Or maybe just a cruel joke played by the universe.
A final thought
As we watch these young athletes step into the spotlight, it’s hard not to wonder about the pressures they face. Mason Howell and Victor Perez—two golfers from different backgrounds but united by their love for the game—highlight the ups and downs of pursuing greatness. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the sheer unpredictability of it all makes sports a microcosm of life itself. So, what are we really watching? Is it just golf, or is it a reflection of our own struggles and triumphs? You decide.
