It’s been the Holy Grail – but now the wait is over. Oli Fisher has the European Tour’s first 59.
There have been nine players who have shot sub-60 rounds on the PGA Tour but never before had the feat been achieved on this side of the Atlantic.
Until now.
Fisher’s 12-under-par total (10 birdies and an eagle) during the second round of the Portugal Masters has forever put his name into the record books – and was a stunning effort at the Dom Pedro Victoria, in Vilamoura.
Reeling off a trio of birdies to start the day, Fisher eagled the fifth on his way to a blistering front nine of 28.
If the 59 wasn’t already in many people’s thoughts even then, it definitely was when he picked up further shots on 10, 11 and 12.
A birdie at 15 meant that just one more was required but there was still drama when he needed a gutsy, lengthy, putt for par at the 16th.
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Once a birdie putt dropped at the par 5 penultimate hole, he calmly – and remarkably given the circumstances – negotiated the 18th.
With the ‘luxury’ of two putts for the record score, after finding the green, he was so close to dropping a long putt for a 58 – the ball just edging the hole and staying out.
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But he despatched the subsequent two-footer, greeted it with a small fist pump and a smile and said of his history-making efforts: “It is great and Guy (Tilston, caddie) was great.
“It’s very different to a couple of years ago on this green when I was fighting to keep my card. It is fun. I tried to enjoy it and am thankful that Guy was with me.”
He continued: “I said to Guy on the 16th green – I’d hit a poor iron into the green and made a great 20-footer for par – ‘we’ve got a couple of holes here to enjoy it’.
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“I was grateful to hit two good drives – 17 and 18 are all about the tee shots on this course, and I hit the fairways to give myself a chance.”
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