Hayden Springer pulled off something truly magical at the John Deere Classic. With an eagle-birdie finish, he posted a stunning 12-under 59 on Thursday, making him the 14th player in PGA Tour history to achieve a sub-60 round.
Springer started the front nine on fire, shooting a 27 on the rain-softened TPC Deere Run. Despite trying to block out thoughts of a 59, he couldn’t help but start believing after making five straight pars. The moment of realisation came when he holed a 55-yard shot for eagle on the par-5 17th. Needing a birdie for golf’s magic number, his approach left him 12 feet short, and the putt was true all the way.
Reflecting on the achievement, Springer admitted, “Kind of at a loss for words in terms of being able to do that. I feel like that’s one of the rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and pull it off, it feels pretty special.”
The PGA Tour record for the lowest score is a 58 by Jim Furyk at the 2016 Travelers Championship. Furyk is also one of 13 other players with a 59. Any score that starts with a 5 remains a big deal, even as players get better each year. Springer’s 59 makes him the second player in three weeks to break 60, following Cameron Young at the same Travelers Championship.
Springer tied Paul Goydos’ record at the TPC Deere Run, made in the first round of the 2010 John Deere Classic. That year, Goydos had a one-shot lead, but Steve Stricker shot a 60 on the same day and went on to win. Springer played in the morning and had a four-shot lead over Harry Hall among the early starters. Overnight rain and no wind left the course vulnerable, allowing players to lift, clean, and place their golf balls in the short grass.
Springer sensed it might be a special day early on, after holing a 12-foot eagle putt on the second hole, and then chipping in from 60 feet for birdie on the next. He birdied the next three holes, closing out the front nine with birdie putts from 3 feet and 7 feet. A birdie putt from 15 feet on the fringe made him realise how low he could go. “I was like: ‘OK, I feel like I’m not missing today. I’m pretty much holing any putt I look at,'” he said. “So probably that putt going in was kind of the trigger of, ‘OK, we might be able to go super low.'”
Springer had missed five straight cuts and was in danger of losing his PGA Tour card. During the U.S. Open week, he played a Korn Ferry Tour event, tying for 54th. He spent time with his swing coach and then tied for 10th in Detroit last week. While that was progress, this round was a giant leap.
Springer knows about handling tough times. His infant daughter, Sage, was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 in 2021 and passed away at age 3, a month before he faced Q-school. He managed to secure his PGA Tour card despite the emotional toll. “I don’t know if it gives me inner strength, but it definitely tests you and you kind of have to find ways to work through it and continue to move forward,” Springer shared. “Most of that is our faith for us, just leaning into that and knowing that we’re secure in that.”
On a day when conditions were perfect for scoring, Kevin Chappell was among those who shot a 64. Twelve players from the morning wave scored 65 or lower. Jordan Spieth, however, had a tougher time, scrambling for a 69. Springer became the fourth player on the PGA Tour with a 59 in the opening round. While Justin Thomas and Brandt Snedeker went on to win after their 59s, Goydos did not. The spotlight now shifts on whether Springer can turn this sensational opening into a victory.
Hayden Springer’s 59 at the John Deere Classic was not just another round of golf; it was a mix of talent, resilience, and a bit of magic. With a history of overcoming personal and professional hurdles, Springer’s feat is a testament to the unpredictable beauty of the sport.
Source: Espn
