Reed rues missing U.S. Open fans as near-silence greets two holes-in-one

There was something strange happening at the seventh hole at Winged Foot on Thursday.

Patrick Reed carded just the third hole-in-one at the course in U.S. Open history early in the day, and a fourth followed from Will Zalatoris - again at the seventh.

The same hole had seen Matthew Wolff come agonisingly close to a repeat, too, in a remarkable series of events.

Reed and Zalatoris became the first players to card aces on the same day at the U.S. Open since Andy Miller and Scott Hoch in the fourth round at Bethpage in 2002, yet those two managed the feat at different holes.

Not since 1989 had the U.S. Open seen a hole-in-one occur on multiple occasions at a single hole in the same round. Incredibly, four players found joy 31 years ago at the sixth hole of the East Course at Oak Hill.

What is going on at Winged Foot's 7th hole?! @WillZalatoris with the SECOND ace of the day. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6RHXZyOmC9

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 17, 2020

Reed, who stood second in the early running with a four-under 66, reflected on his stunning shot, which prompted a delayed reaction due to there being no crowd at the course.

"It would have been nuts [with a crowd]," he said. "Up here in New York, the fans are amazing. You make a hole-in-one and the fans will just go crazy.

"It's unfortunate the fans weren't here, because that would have been an awesome experience. At the same time, an ace is an ace. I'll take it either way."

Reed added: "Of course, I was excited about it, but really I knew from that point I still had to get ready for the next hole, because here at Winged Foot every shot you have to pay full attention to."