World No 236 Hayden Springer managed the PGA Tour’s second 59 inside a fortnight to take the early first-round lead on 12 under at the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
Twelve days after Cameron Young registered the 13th ever sub-60 round on the tour at the Travelers Championship, Springer, who only earned his tour card via qualifying school in December, added his name to the growing list when a superb front nine was matched by a remarkable finish.
An eagle and six birdies to the turn meant his 29 was a record for the front nine on the TPC Deere Run course and the lowest since 2000, but failing to take advantage of the par-five 10th was the first of five successive pars.
A 59 looked unlikely even after a birdie at the 15th but he holed out from 55 yards for an eagle at the par-five 17th and then nervelessly sank a 12-foot putt at the last for his place in the history books.
Springer said: “I’m feeling good. 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.”
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Prior to his joint-10th place finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Sunday he had missed six successive cuts. “It’s been a little bit tough to find anything so it is special,” he said.