Throwback Thursday: Thomas becomes youngest player ever to shoot 59
Justin Thomas started 2017 as he meant to go on. Little did the golfing world know it was only a sign of things to come
The Background
Justin Thomas headed into the Sony Open in good spirits following victory the week before at the Tournament of Champions as the Hawaiian swing got into full flow.
But, we’re not even sure he could’ve predicted what was about to happen on the opening day of proceedings at Waialae Country Club.
There was to be no burnout here…
The Scene
Just four days on from victory in Kapalua Justin Thomas got hot, and he stayed seriously hot.
The 23-year-old became the youngest player on tour to shoot 59 and broke all sorts of records in the process. Playing alongside friends Jordan Spieth and Daniel Berger the Kentucky native just couldn’t miss.
Thomas made eight birdies, two eagles and a recorded just one bogey during his round. Not a bad day at all…
An eagle … for 59 … BANG!
What a show from @JustinThomas34!! pic.twitter.com/X6aRKX08la
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 12, 2017
The Legacy
With the round in the books, let’s take a look at the records he set (courtesy of Justin Ray):
- Youngest in PGA Tour history to shoot sub-60 round
- Second ever to make eagle on last hole for 59 (David Duval, 1999)
- First player in PGA Tour history with multiple eagles in a sub-60 round
- Made one bogey. Jim Furyk is the only other player to shoot 59 (2013 BMW) with a bogey on the card
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
