Hayden Springer had a standout performance in the opening round of the John Deere Classic on Thursday.
The PGA Tour rookie shot a 12-under 59, marking only the 14th time a sub-60 round has been recorded in PGA Tour history. Springer’s score tied the John Deere Classic first-round record, set by Paul Goydos with his 59 in 2010.
Springer is the second player to break 60 in the past three weeks, following Cameron Young’s 59 in the second round of the Travelers Championship in June.
Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58, achieved at the Travelers Championship in 2016.
Springer shot an 8-under 27 on the front nine, tying the tournament’s lowest nine-hole score. He added a 32 on the back nine to complete his round of 59.
Shooting 59 became a realistic target for Springer after his front-nine performance. “It was in my mind making the turn, for sure,” he told PGA Tour Radio’s Bill Rosinski. “It’s almost like you feel like you have to at that point.”
Springer concluded his round with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Earlier, he made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 15th and scored an eagle from 55 yards on the 17th.
At the end of his round, Springer held a four-shot lead over second-place Harry Hall. Springer, 27, is aiming for his first career PGA win.
Springer’s front-nine 27 was also notable as it was only the 14th time a player has shot 27 or lower on the PGA Tour since 1983. The record for the lowest nine-hole score is 26, set by Corey Pavin at the 2006 U.S. Bank Championship.
Springer’s performance came after missing the cut in seven of his past eight events. “It’s been kind of a rough little bit,” Springer told Rosinski. “I went back to an old coach of mine that I grew up going to. She’s kind of straightened me out a little bit, kind of helped me get back to some feels that I’ve worked in the past. So that’s made a little bit of a difference.”
