Silvis, Illinois – Hayden Springer made history at the John Deere Classic by shooting a 59 in the opening round, becoming the 14th player in PGA Tour history to achieve such a feat. Springer’s incredible round included an eagle from 55 yards on the par-5 17th hole, followed by a birdie on the last hole to finish at 12-under par at TPC Deere Run.
Springer, who had never shot lower than 61 before, expressed his disbelief at his accomplishment, calling it a rare and special moment in golf. This marks the second 59 on the Tour in three weeks, with Cameron Young achieving the same feat recently. Interestingly, only five times has a player broken 60 on Tour and gone on to win, the most recent being Brandt Snedeker in 2018.
Buoyed by memories of his late daughter, Springer earned his Tour card for the first time in December at Q-School. Despite entering the John Deere Classic ranked 127th on the FedExCup points list, Springer’s recent reunion with his childhood coach, Rosey Bartlett, proved to be fruitful as he tied for 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic before his impressive showing at the John Deere Classic.
In Thursday’s round with preferred lies, Springer started strong with an eagle on the second hole followed by a string of consecutive birdies. He closed out the front nine with a remarkable 9-under 27, adding more birdies along the way before his dramatic finish on the back nine. Springer acknowledged the significance of his achievement but remained focused on the task ahead, approaching each day with the same routine and mindset.
Springer’s performance at the John Deere Classic not only highlights his skill and determination but also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of golf. With the tournament still ongoing, all eyes will be on Springer as he aims to maintain his momentum and capitalize on his record-breaking start to the event.