Best low round

[MikeW2]

I’ve been watching the seniors in Hawaii and Goosen’s 62 and Couples’ 63 had me start to wonder about something. I know that there are now several people that have shot tournament rounds in the 50’s but I was wondering if anyone knows what the biggest gap between low round of the day and the second lowest score? The 62 was a great round obviously but there were also some 63’s and 64’s shot. My logic would be that a 65 when no one else in the field shoots better than say a 72 would be a better round than if someone shoots 59 but there are a bunch of 60’s and 61’s shot that same round. Does my thinking have any merit or am I nuts?

[iBanesto]

Tiger's final round at the 2000 US Open comes to my mind.

 

The pressure of playing with a 10 stroke lead on that course. Most players would have come back to field, but Tiger increased his lead with a bogey free round.

 

It is very easy to consider the "best" round from just a score perspective but it should viewed with the context of a tournament.

[MikeW2]

I agree completely. While I used a numbers based question you pose a situational version of the question. Tiger was awesome that day. 

[Frostfield]

I believe Jim Furyk’s 58 was the most strokes gained round ever.

[puttfordoux]

Johnny Miller's 63 in the '73 US Open comes to mind, but the next lowest score was a 65 by Lanny Wadkins , who ended up four shots back. But it was still a landmark round given the context.

[MikeW2]

Furyk had a tremendous round as did Miller on what I’d guess was a very difficult setup being 4th round of a US Open. I guess a better way to frame my question would be what is the biggest disparity from low round to the 2nd best score?

[mat562]

Sandy Lyle shot 71 in the 1987 Muirfield Open in the middle of a storm without ever hitting a wooden club. His round was in the absolute worst of the conditions on a rough day, played entirely in sustained 30 knot winds and sheeting rain where others with similar tee times were shooting 80 and more. Jack Nicklaus and a few others opined that it was among the best rounds they'd ever seen.

 

 

 

Edited January 23, 2021 by mat562

[MikeW2]

71 when everyone else is shooting 80 is exactly what I was talking about!

[tgws]

Norman at the British

63 rd 2 1986  

64 final rd 1993 reeled in Faldo

[MattyO1984]

There will probably not be many mentions of it but one that I always remember is Brant Snedeker at Torres a few years back. The wind was horrendous. I am sure that his score was was close to 10 shots better than the field average that final day.

[Duct Tape]

3 hours ago, puttfordoux said:

Johnny Miller's 63 in the '73 US Open comes to mind, but the next lowest score was a 65 by Lanny Wadkins , who ended up four shots back. But it was still a landmark round given the context.

At Oakmont no less!

Edited January 23, 2021 by Duct Tape

[Christosterone]

It’s not a final round but trevino rattling off 5 straight birdies to close out the back nine on Saturday of the 72 open...

 

 

[gvogel]

Tom Watson shot 68 at the Memorial one year in cold, windy conditions when no one else was breaking 75, or something like that.

[tannyhoban]

Olazabal shooting a first round 61 at the NEC gave him a 4 shot lead day one. He won by 12 strokes. Followed him on Saturday when he shot a pedestrian 67. He had complete command of his game that week.

 

[mizuno player]

1 hour ago, gvogel said:

Tom Watson shot 68 at the Memorial one year in cold, windy conditions when no one else was breaking 75, or something like that.

This is the one I was going to mention. If memory serves, which is doubtful, he hadn't won in a long stretch either.  

[aarontl]

Paul lawrie’s 67 at Carnoustie when the course was that difficult. Jean van de velde shot 76 as leader and still made a playoff 

[gvogel]

1 hour ago, mizuno player said:

This is the one I was going to mention. If memory serves, which is doubtful, he hadn't won in a long stretch either.  

No, the one that was memorable was his second round 69 in 1979 in 30 mph winds and 13* wind chill.

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Davis Love shooting 64 at Sawgrass in cold and windy conditions comes to mind, not sure what the next lowest round was but he blew away anyone that teed off around the same time.

[BNGL]

For me it would be Tiger's 61 at Firestone in 2013. He no one shot better than 66 that day...and Firestone is a tough golf course!

 

Another was at the API on a week where it was a smidge frosty! Emiliano Grillo went out and shot a five under 67 in the morning wave where temps never got above 40 except for maybe his last few holes. He shared the first round lead, but all the other players were part of the afternoon wave. That 67 at Bay Hill in the wind and cold was absolutely masterful! 

[grm24]

On 1/23/2021 at 2:02 PM, mizuno player said:

This is the one I was going to mention. If memory serves, which is doubtful, he hadn't won in a long stretch either.  

https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/06/04/putting-the-tour-in-his-pocket-with-four-wins-and-four-seconds-so-far-tom-watson-is-virtually-assured-of-becoming-the-first-golfer-to-win-500000-in-one-season-at-muirfield-village-he-turned-in-the-years-best-round-in-the-years-w

 

That was Watsons's 4th win in the 1979 season. He had last won two weeks earlier. When Watson won The Memorial in late May it was his 8th top 2 in 1979 to that point and his 10th top 10 in 14 events to start that season. Just phenomenal. Tigeresque.

 

[grm24]

6 hours ago, BNGL said:

For me it would be Tiger's 61 at Firestone in 2013. He no one shot better than 66 that day...and Firestone is a tough golf course!

That was Tiger's 2nd 61 @ Firestone South. He also shot 61 there in 2000 during the 2nd round when they finished in the dark when Tiger won by 11.

[mizuno player]

5 hours ago, grm24 said:

https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/06/04/putting-the-tour-in-his-pocket-with-four-wins-and-four-seconds-so-far-tom-watson-is-virtually-assured-of-becoming-the-first-golfer-to-win-500000-in-one-season-at-muirfield-village-he-turned-in-the-years-best-round-in-the-years-w

 

That was Watsons's 4th win in the 1979 season. He had last won two weeks earlier. When Watson won The Memorial in late May it was his 8th top 2 in 1979 to that point and his 10th top 10 in 14 events to start that season. Just phenomenal. Tigeresque.

 

The round I was thinking of was not in 79. It was in the 90's. And he hadn't won in awhile. I think it was last tour win. I'll look it up later. 

[golfandfishing]

If you are thinking of the 1996 Memorial, Duval and Frost both made runs at Watson and shot lower rounds on Sunday in the rain. Saturday was a nice day, Watson shot mid 60’s but was far from alone. I was there both days. 

[Christosterone]

Hideki Matsuyama said this was the greatest iron play he’s ever personally seen.

Further said he has never heard or seen iron shots like Tiger hit that day...

high praise from Hideki...

2013 is oft forgotten...but wow, Tiger was on fire that year

 

 

[grm24]

16 hours ago, mizuno player said:

The round I was thinking of was not in 79. It was in the 90's. And he hadn't won in awhile. I think it was last tour win. I'll look it up later. 

Watson won The Memorial in 1996. First tour win in 9 years. IIRC there was nothing special about any of his rounds versus the field in '96. His final tour win was the 1998 Colonial.

 

https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide/past-results.1996.html

Edited January 26, 2021 by grm24

[Phreddy]

I always thought David Duval's 59 shot in 1999 at the Desert Classic was a great "low round."  It stands out to me because he did it on a tournament Sunday and needed the 59 to win by a stroke.  Great round under pressure.

 

Phred

[PappyVanWinkle53]

On 1/23/2021 at 12:35 PM, Duct Tape said:

At Oakmont no less!

Johnny Miller shot a 63 in the US Open at Oakmont???!!!!  I had no idea!  Quite a feat....I’m shocked he never shared that accomplishment with anyone......

[Duct Tape]

33 minutes ago, PappyVanWinkle53 said:

Johnny Miller shot a 63 in the US Open at Oakmont???!!!!  I had no idea!  Quite a feat....I’m shocked he never shared that accomplishment with anyone......

😀😀

[golfandfishing]

1 hour ago, Phreddy said:

I always thought David Duval's 59 shot in 1999 at the Desert Classic was a great "low round."  It stands out to me because he did it on a tournament Sunday and needed the 59 to win by a stroke.  Great round under pressure.

 

Phred

Low round of the day by 5.