Hayden Springer sets John Deere Classic record with 59-stroke round

Hayden Springer’s impressive opening round at the John Deere Classic on Thursday was nothing short of extraordinary, as he shot a 12-under 59. This achievement is rare in PGA Tour history, with only the 14th sub-60 round ever being accomplished. His performance at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, tied the record for the first round of the John Deere Classic, matching Paul Goydos’ 59 from 2010.

Springer’s exceptional round also set him apart from other players who had achieved a score of 59 in recent weeks. Cameron Young had done so in the second round at the Travelers Championship in June. Springer’s impressive front nine score of 27 matched the tournament’s lowest nine-hole score, setting him up for a successful finish. He went on to shoot a remarkable back nine score of 32 to finish with a total of 59 for the round.

After sinking an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to secure his score, Springer reflected on his performance. He said that shooting a 59 felt like a possibility after his impressive front-nine play. Despite missing the cut in seven out of eight previous events, Springer demonstrated significant improvement in his game and finished his round four shots ahead of second-place Harry Hall.