Hayden Springer carded a 59 in his opening round at the John Deere Classic to become only the 14th player in PGA Tour history to break the 60 barrier; watch the John Deere Classic throughout this week live on Sky Sports, with Friday's action from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf
Friday 5 July 2024 18:52, UK
Hayden Springer became the 14th player to record a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour after shooting a 12-under 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic.
Springer carded eight birdies and two eagles, holing from just outside 12 feet on the final green for the last of his birdies to break the 60 barrier.
He goes into Friday's round with a two-shot lead over Finland's Sami Valimaki, who made 11 birdies in his round of 61. Eric Cole is close behind in third at nine-under 62 with England's Harry Hall a shot further back on eight under.
Springer fired an eight under 27 on the front nine at TPC Deere Run, the lowest nine-hole score on Tour since 2000, then went quiet for several holes. He was nine under thru 16 holes when he holed out from the rough for eagle at the par-five 17th.
That put the 27-year-old American one birdie away from the elusive 59. He found the centre of the 18th fairway, put his second shot about 12 feet from the pin and drained the putt.
His feat comes less than two weeks after Cam Young shot 59 at the Travelers Championship which was the first 59 since 2020. Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship and he has also carded a 59, along with Scottie Scheffler, Kevin Chappell, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin, Justin Thomas, Stuart Appleby, Paul Goydos, David Duval, Chip Beck, and Al Geiberger.
"I am feeling good. I am kind of at a loss for words in terms of being able to do that," said Springer after signing his card.
"It is one of those rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and pull it off is pretty special.
"It is special to be able to do that. I played well last week but it has been a little bit tough to find anything and get stuff going and go low.
"It is special. It feels good to be standing here and to have had a good round of golf.
"I didn't actually think I could make that shot [on 17] but I did and that kind of changed the momentum."
Springer had missed seven of his last nine cuts but did finish 10th at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic.
He is ranked 236th in the world and has never won on the PGA Tour. He turned pro in 2019 but, after losing his card, he earned his way back on tour via Q-school last December.
Valimaki's 61 was a career low on the PGA Tour, but he is still looking up at Springer.
"I saw him, actually, in I think it was my seventh hole," Valimaki said. "I was like, OK, I need to keep shooting lower and lower. Quite didn't catch it, but still a good round."
Cole stayed bogey-free with nine birdies. The 36-year-old, like the two players in front of him, is still hunting for his first win on the PGA Tour.
"The scores are historically pretty low at this tournament," Cole said, "so whether someone shoots 61, 59, doesn't make a huge difference as far as any strategy. Still trying to hit good shots and give yourself as many birdie chances as you can get."
Four players are tied for fourth at 8-under 63: Davis Thompson, England's Hall, Chan Kim and amateur Luke Clanton, a Florida State golfer who tied for 10th at last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic. A number of players shot 64, including Denny McCarthy, Ireland's Seamus Power and Lucas Glover, who won the 2021 John Deere Classic.
Jordan Spieth is in danger of missing the cut after a pedestrian 2-under 69 left him outside the top 65.
Watch the John Deere Classic throughout this week live on Sky Sports, with Friday's action from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more with NOW.
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