John Deere Classic 2024: Hayden Springer posts 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history to lead after Round 1
Hayden Springer made an incredible 12 3-putts Thursday in his first round at the John Deere Classic and finished with four of them to post his first career 59 and record the 14th under-par 60 round in PGA Tour history.
After leaving the 27th hole — Springer said he thought he’d do everything he expected after a 16-foot birdie on No. 6 — the 59 effort faltered a bit as he opened with five straight pars. However, it picked up again on the final four holes. Another birdie on No. 15 followed before the shot of the day on No. 17, where he chipped in a 55-yarder for his second eagle of the round.
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“When it came in on 17, I immediately knew, ‘Okay, now I have a chance,'” Springer said. “I mean, I never thought I would make that shot, but it changed the momentum to actually be able to make 59.”
The 59 came down to the final hole for Springer, where he hit a 308-yard drive and had 155 yards on his approach shot. He had to get up and down from there to get his eighth birdie of the day (along with a pair of eagles) for 59. After hitting the ball to 12 feet, he hit what he said was a 2-footer for the historic round.
“I feel really good,” Springer said. “I don’t know, I don’t know how to describe the ability to do that. I feel like it’s one of those rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and do it, it feels special.”
While Springer’s 59 was just his 14th 60 on the PGA Tour, it was the second time it’s happened on this course and the second in the past three weeks. Cameron Young did it on Saturday at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
PGA Tour Rounds Under 60
| Hayden Springer | 59 | first | John Deere Classic | 2024 |
| Cameron Young | 59 | 3 | Tourism Championship | 2024 |
| Scottie Scheffler | 59 | 2 | Northern Trust Fund | 2020 |
| Kevin Chappell | 59 | 2 | Military Memorial Service at the Greenbrier | 2019 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 59 | first | Wyndham Championship | 2018 |
| Adam Hadwin | 59 | 3 | American Express | 2017 |
| Justin Thomas | 59 | first | Sony Open | 2017 |
| Jim Furyk | 58 | 4 | Tourism Championship | 2016 |
| Jim Furyk | 59 | 2 | BMW Championship | two thousand and thirteen |
| Stuart Appleby | 59 | 4 | Greenbrier Classic | 2010 |
| Paul Goydos | 59 | first | John Deere Classic | 2010 |
| David Duval | 59 | 4 | CareerBuilder Challenge | 1999 |
| Chip Beck | 59 | 3 | Shriners Hospitals for Children Opens | 1991 |
| Al Geiberger | 59 | 2 | St. Jude Classic | 1977 |
While 59 is impressive, it only puts Springer about nine strokes above the course, as the average at TPC Deere Run is currently -3. However, those nine strokes are still good enough for about eight of the best shots achieved worldwide in 2024.
Springer leads the event by two shots over Sami Valimaki, three over Eric Cole and four over Harry Hall and Davis Thompson. On the three previous occasions a 59 has been shot in the first round of a PGA Tour event, two of those players have gone on to win (Justin Thomas, 2017 Sony Open and Brandt Snedeker, 2018 Wyndham Championship).
The only one who didn’t was Paul Goydos at the 2010 John Deere Classic.
