Hayden Springer records 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history

World number 236 Hayden Springer recorded the PGA Tour’s 14th sub-60 round with a first-round 59 at the John Deere Classic in Illinois on Thursday.

Springer, who only earned his tour card via qualifying school in December, also recorded the second 59 inside two weeks on the tour after American Cameron Young at the Travelers Championship on 22 June.

The 27-year-old American, who had a bogey-free round, holed out from 55 yards for an eagle on the 17th before calmly stroking home a 12-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to lead after the first round on 12 under.

“I’m at a loss for words at being able to do that, one of the rare things in golf. I’ve shot 61 a few times,” said Springer.

“I don’t even really have words. Like I’m still shaking a little bit.

“It’s like something you dream of, right? We all want to go out and shoot 59. You don’t ever really – I don’t know how many chances I’ll ever get at doing that again.”

Before Springer and Young, the last sub-60 round was Scottie Scheffler at TPC Boston in 2020.

American Jim Furyk shot sub-60 twice on the PGA Tour and is the only player to score 58 on the tour in 2016. However, away from the PGA Tour, Bryson DeChambeau matched this achievement to win the LIV Golf Greenbrier title last year.

Springer shot the lowest nine-hole score on the PGA Tour since 2000, scoring 27 on the front nine which included an eagle and six birdies, before five successive pars on the back nine.

Before his joint-10th place finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday, the American had missed six successive cuts.

“It’s been a little bit tough to find anything so it is special,” he added.