Scheffler posts historic 59
Add another 59 to the PGA Tour record books. Scottie Scheffler logged the iconic number at TPC Boston on Friday in the second round of the Northern Trust.
There was almost a second 59 a few hours later, but Dustin Johnson came up short. More on that in a bit.
Scheffler’s round of 12-under 59 came after an opening 1-under 70. He rocketed more than 70 spots up the leaderboard, into the solo lead at 13 under.
He is the second youngest to break 60. Scheffler is 24 years and 2 months old. Justin Thomas was 23 years, 8 months and 14 days old when he shot a 59 at the 2017 Sony Open.
How big a deal was the 59, according to Scheffler? Well, it’s not new, anyway. He shot one in quarantine a few months ago.
“We were playing a socially distanced wolf game with a few of my buddies from Royal Oaks at Texas Rangers Club towards the end when things were loosening up at home,” Scheffler said. “We had a few groups that day. Went out on our individual carts and had some fun. A few of my roommates were out there playing. I didn’t know I shot 59 at the time.”
Scheffler said he made a 20-foot eagle on the 18th for the 59 during quarantine.
On Friday at TPC Boston, the former Texas player’s first birdie came at the par-5 second hole. He added birdies at Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 to turn in 30, then kept it going on the back with birdies at Nos. 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16. For the final birdie on No. 18, he faced just more than 4 feet. He drained it make history.
“It was fun to watch Scottie and how well he did, but man, on top of that you feel like about a 9 handicap watching somebody shoot a 59 but I’m happy for him,” said Kevin Streelman, who played alongside Scheffler.
Streelman said he spent the day not bringing up the score. The men already had plans for dinner on Friday night, and now there’s something to celebrate -- with Streelman likely buying.
“I’m going to probably get stuck with it, being the old guy,” he joked. “No, it would be an honor to pay for that meal.”
Scheffler’s is the 12th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history. Kevin Chappell was the last player to accomplish the feat at The Greenbrier in 2019.
Johnson teed off in the afternoon wave right about the time Scheffler birdied the 18th hole for his 59. Johnson started his round birdie-eagle-birdieeagle-birdie.
Two more birdies on 7 and 8 gave him a 27 at the turn.
He would get to 11 under through 11 but then parred his last six holes to finish with a 60.
But 59 – or a number even lower – had to be on his mind coming down the stretch.
“Obviously you start thinking about it but I was trying to just start playing one shot at a time,” he told Golf Channel after he was done.
The 60 is the lowest score he’s posted on the PGA Tour.
He leads after 36 holes.