2024 John Deere Classic: Hayden Springer records 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history to lead after Round 1

Hayden Springer made an astounding 12 3s on Thursday in his first spherical on the John Deere Traditional and completed with 4 of them to shoot the primary 59 of his profession and document simply the 14th sub-60 spherical in PGA Tour historical past.

After going out in 27 — Springer mentioned he was pondering he was going to make all the things he checked out following a 16-foot birdie at No. 6 — the bid for 59 stalled a bit on the again as he opened with 5 consecutive pars. It picked again up over the ultimate 4 holes, nevertheless. One other birdie at No. 15 adopted earlier than the shot of the day on No. 17, the place he chipped in for 55 yards for his second eagle of the spherical. 

“When it went in on 17 I instantly knew, ‘Okay, now I’ve an opportunity,'” mentioned Springer. “I imply, I did not ever suppose I might make that shot actually, but it surely type of modified the momentum to truly be capable of go shoot 59.”

The 59 got here right down to the ultimate gap for Springer the place he hit a 308-yard drive and had 155 yards in on his strategy shot. He needed to stand up and down from there yards for his eighth birdie of the day (to go along with a pair of eagles) for the 59. After hitting it to 12 toes, he nailed a putt that he mentioned broke 2 toes for the historic spherical. 

“I am feeling good,” mentioned Springer. “I do not know, at loss for phrases by way of having the ability to do this. I really feel like that is one the uncommon issues in golf, so to type of have that chance and pull it off, it feels fairly particular.”

Whereas Springer’s 59 is simply the 14th time 60 has been cracked on the PGA Tour, it is the second time it is occurred on this golf course and the second time it is occurred during the last three weeks. Cameron Younger did it on Saturday on the Vacationers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

Rounds on the PGA Tour beneath 60

Although the 59 is spectacular, it solely gained Springer about 9 photographs on the sphere as a result of the scoring common at TPC Deere Run is at the moment proper at -3. That 9 strokes gained could be adequate, although, for concerning the eighth greatest strokes gained spherical worldwide in 2024.

Springer leads the occasion by two photographs over Sami Valimaki, three over Eric Cole and 4 over Harry Corridor and Davis Thompson. Within the three earlier occasions a 59 was shot within the first spherical of a PGA Tour occasion, two of these gamers went on to win (Justin Thomas, 2017 Sony Open and Brandt Snedeker, 2018 Wyndham Championship).

The one one who did not was Paul Goydos on the 2010 … John Deere Traditional.