The Lowest Golf Score Ever Recorded
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Quick Answer
- The lowest officially recognized single-round score in professional golf is a remarkable 58.
- This elite score has been achieved by a select few golfers on major professional tours.
- Achieving a 58 typically requires a combination of exceptional skill, favorable course conditions, and a touch of luck.
Who This Is For
- Golf enthusiasts eager to know the absolute pinnacle of scoring in professional golf.
- Anyone interested in sports trivia and the most impressive records in competitive golf.
What to Check First
- Sanctioning Body: Always confirm the score was achieved in a tournament sanctioned by a major professional golf tour (e.g., PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour). Unofficial events don’t count.
- Course Par: This is crucial. A score of 58 on a par-72 course is a different beast than on a par-60 course. The par dictates how many strokes under par the score is.
- Date of Achievement: Records are made to be broken. Knowing when the score was shot helps place it in historical context.
- Course Conditions: Was the course playing easy? Were the greens receptive, the rough minimal, and the weather perfect? These factors heavily influence scoring.
The Lowest Golf Score Ever Recorded: Step-by-Step
Digging into the history of golf’s lowest scores involves a few key steps to ensure accuracy. It’s not just about the number; it’s about the context.
1. Identify the Golfer and Event: Pinpoint the player who achieved the score and the specific tournament they were playing in.
- Action: Search official tour records or reputable golf news archives for the lowest scores.
- What to look for: The name of the golfer and the name of the tournament. For instance, Jim Furyk’s 58 came at the Travelers Championship.
- Mistake to avoid: Don’t confuse scores from exhibition matches, charity events, or amateur tournaments with official professional tour records. These often have different rules or aren’t officially recognized.
2. Verify the Score and Round: Confirm the exact score recorded for the 18 holes.
- Action: Cross-reference the score with multiple official sources if possible.
- What to look for: A clean “58” for a single round. Make sure it wasn’t a typo or a misremembered number.
- Mistake to avoid: Assuming a reported score is automatically correct. Sometimes early reports can have errors before official confirmation.
3. Determine the Course Par: This is non-negotiable for understanding the significance of the score.
- Action: Look up the par for the course on the specific day the round was played.
- What to look for: The par number, usually 70, 71, or 72 for most professional courses.
- Mistake to avoid: Forgetting to mention the par. A score of 58 on a par-72 course is 14-under par, a monumental achievement. On a par-60 course, it’s only 2-under par, which is still good but not record-shattering.
4. Calculate Strokes Under Par: Understand how far below the course’s standard score the golfer went.
- Action: Subtract the golfer’s score from the course par.
- What to look for: The resulting number, indicating how many strokes under par they were.
- Mistake to avoid: Only focusing on the raw number “58” without considering the par. The “under par” number is often a better measure of dominance.
5. Check Tour and Course Records: See if the score set a new record for that specific tour or course.
- Action: Research the tour’s all-time scoring records and the specific course’s history.
- What to look for: Confirmation that this 58 was indeed the lowest ever for that tour or on that particular layout.
- Mistake to avoid: Assuming a 58 is always the lowest ever. While it’s the benchmark on many tours, there could be unique course setups or historical nuances.
What’s the Lowest Golf Score Ever Recorded? A Deep Dive
When golfers talk about the “lowest golf score ever,” they’re almost always referring to a single 18-hole round in a professional tournament. This is the ultimate test of a player’s ability to string together birdies and eagles while avoiding bogeys. It’s a testament to skill, mental fortitude, and sometimes, a course that’s playing particularly friendly.
The number that instantly comes to mind is 58. This isn’t just a good score; it’s legendary. It means a player averaged better than a birdie on every single hole, or a combination of birdies and eagles that left the competition in the dust.
The Elite Club of 58 Shooters
As of my last check, only a handful of golfers have officially broken 60 in a PGA Tour event, and the magic number of 58 has been reached by an even smaller group. These rounds are etched into golf history.
- Jim Furyk: Perhaps the most famous holder of the 58, he achieved this on August 7, 2016, during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. This was on a par-70 course, meaning he was an incredible 12-under par for the round. This round is often cited as the lowest PGA Tour score ever. It’s a round that still gets golf fans buzzing. I remember watching bits of it, and the sheer focus was incredible. You could tell something special was happening.
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- Other Notable Low Scores: While 58 is the ultimate benchmark, scores of 59 have been achieved by a larger, but still very exclusive, group of players on the PGA Tour. These include:
- Al Geiberger (1977)
- Chip Beck (1991)
- David Duval (1999)
- Paul Goydos (2010)
- Stuart Appleby (2010)
- Jim Furyk (2013) – yes, he shot a 59 before his 58!
- Justin Thomas (2017)
- Adam Hadwin (2017)
- Brandt Snedeker (2018)
- Kevin Chappell (2019)
- Scottie Scheffler (2020)
- Bryson DeChambeau (2023) – achieved on the LIV Golf tour, which also uses major tour standards.
It’s important to note that these records are for official PGA Tour events. Other tours, like the European Tour or LIV Golf, have their own records, but the PGA Tour’s are often considered the benchmark due to the tour’s prestige and depth of talent.
Factors Contributing to Record-Breaking Rounds
What allows a golfer to reach such incredible scoring heights? It’s a perfect storm of elements:
- Exceptional Skill: Obviously, the golfer needs to be playing at the absolute peak of their game. This means hitting approach shots close, making putts from everywhere, and having a great short game.
- Favorable Course Conditions: Courses set up for scoring often feature:
- Wide fairways: Less chance of errant drives leading to penalties.
- Soft greens: Approach shots can stop quickly, allowing for aggressive targeting of pins.
- Short rough: Missed fairways don’t result in severe punishment.
- Good weather: Little wind, no rain, and comfortable temperatures are ideal.
- Course Design: Some courses are simply designed to be more scoreable. Shorter yardage, fewer hazards, and less severe undulations can all contribute.
- Mental Fortitude: As a player gets into the low 60s and then approaches the record, the pressure mounts. Staying calm, focused, and executing shots under that kind of stress is a massive part of the achievement.
- A Bit of Luck: Even the best rounds involve some lucky bounces, putts that lip in, or approach shots that trickle close to the hole.
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Common Mistakes in Reporting Lowest Golf Scores
Getting the details right when discussing golf’s lowest scores is key. A little inaccuracy can lead to a lot of confusion.
- Mistake: Citing scores from unofficial events or exhibitions.
- Why it matters: These scores aren’t recognized by official tour bodies and don’t hold historical weight. Anyone can shoot a low score on a relaxed Tuesday at their local muni.
- Fix: Always verify that the score was achieved during a sanctioned professional tournament on a recognized tour (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, etc.).
- Mistake: Forgetting to mention the course par.
- Why it matters: A score of 58 on a par-72 course is a 14-under-par masterpiece. A 58 on a par-60 course is only 2-under par, which is good but not record-breaking in the same way. The par provides essential context for the score’s significance.
- Fix: Always state the par of the course for the round in which the record was set. This allows for a true comparison of performance relative to the challenge.
- Mistake: Confusing single-round records with tournament totals.
- Why it matters: A player might shoot a low score over 72 holes (e.g., 260), but that’s different from a single-round record. The lowest single-round score is a distinct and more dramatic achievement.
- Fix: Clearly differentiate between records for an 18-hole round and records for a 36-hole or 72-hole tournament.
- Mistake: Not verifying the score with official sources.
- Why it matters: Golf statistics can sometimes be misreported or outdated on less reputable websites. The official records are the definitive source.
- Fix: Cross-reference information with official PGA Tour archives, major golf news outlets (like ESPN, Golf Channel, Golf Digest), or the official website of the tour in question.
- Mistake: Assuming a record is global without checking specific tours.
- Why it matters: While 58 is the benchmark on the PGA Tour, other tours might have different records or specific course records that are lower. The question is often about the “lowest golf score ever recorded” in a professional context, and the PGA Tour is typically the focus.
- Fix: Specify which tour or event the record applies to. For example, “Jim Furyk’s 58 is the lowest PGA Tour score ever.”
- Mistake: Overlooking the significance of the course itself.
- Why it matters: Some courses are inherently easier to score on than others. A 58 on a notoriously difficult course is more impressive than on a resort-style track known for birdies.
- Fix: While not always explicitly stated in the record itself, understanding the reputation and difficulty of the course adds valuable context to the achievement.
FAQ on Lowest Golf Scores
- What is the lowest score ever recorded in a single round of professional golf?
The lowest officially recognized score in a PGA Tour event is 58, achieved by Jim Furyk on August 7, 2016, at the Travelers Championship. This was on a par-70 course.
- Has anyone ever shot a 57 in a professional golf tournament?
As of now, no player has officially recorded a 57 in a sanctioned PGA Tour event. The record stands at 58. There have been reports of 57s in unofficial events or on non-tour courses, but these are not officially recognized professional records.
- Who holds the record for the lowest score on the PGA Tour?
Jim Furyk holds the record for the lowest single-round score on the PGA Tour with a 58. He also previously held a share of the record for the lowest 59.
- Are there different lowest score records for different professional golf tours?
Yes. While 58 is the PGA Tour benchmark, other major tours like the European Tour or LIV Golf have their own recognized lowest scores. For instance, Bryson DeChambeau shot a 58 on the LIV Golf tour in 2023.
- Does the course layout significantly impact the possibility of achieving the lowest golf score ever?
Absolutely. Shorter courses, wider fairways, receptive greens, and less penal rough all contribute to making lower scores more achievable. A 58 is much more likely to occur on a course set up to be scoreable than on a championship layout designed to challenge the world’s best with difficult conditions.
- How many golfers have shot 59 on the PGA Tour?
As of recent records, over a dozen different golfers have achieved a score of 59 on the PGA Tour, making it a rare but more common feat than the 58. Jim Furyk is unique in having shot both a 58 and a 59.
- What is the lowest score ever recorded in golf, including amateur and unofficial rounds?
While official professional records are the most commonly cited, there are claims of lower scores in various contexts. However, these are not officially recognized by major golfing bodies. For official purposes, 58 remains the pinnacle.
Sources:
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.