In an extraordinary display of WTAF golfing prowess, Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion, etched his name in the annals of golf history this Sunday. DeChambeau fired a breathtaking round of 58, securing a triumphant win at the LIV Golf Greenbrier Championship. This remarkable feat took place on the verdant fairways and immaculate greens of the West Virginia course, a 54-hole event that saw DeChambeau finish an impressive 23 under par.
Best round on a PGA Tour Ever
DeChambeau’s score equalled the lowest round ever recorded on the PGA Tour, a record set by Jim Furyk in 2016 at TPC River Highlands, Connecticut. This achievement marks a new pinnacle in DeChambeau’s career, as he himself acknowledged, “It’s probably the greatest moment in my golfing career.”
The LIV series, which made its debut in 2021, had never witnessed a round as low as this. Overwhelmed by his achievement, DeChambeau expressed, “It’s beyond words. I’ve been working so hard for a long time, and I knew something special was going to come at some point. I just didn’t know when.”
A round of 58 in top-level professional golf is a rare sight indeed. Only a select few have managed to achieve this feat. On the Japan Tour, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa in 2010 at The Crowns and South Korean Kim Seong-hyeon in 2021 at the Golf Partner Pro-Am have both posted rounds of 58.
Similarly, Stephan Jager of Germany scored a 58 on the Web.com Tour in California in 2016, and Spain’s Alejandro del Rey matched this score on the European Challenge Tour in Switzerland in 2021. A smattering of 58s have also been recorded on developmental tours, while Irishman David Carey made a 57 at the Cervino Open on the third-tier Alps Tour.
The PGA Tour has seen 11 rounds of 59, while Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam holds the only 59 on the LPGA Tour. Englishman Oliver Fisher is the lone golfer to hit 59 on the European Tour.
Six shot lead wins it for Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau, the 29-year-old American, clinched the win with a six-shot lead over Chile’s Mito Pereira, who finished with a closing 63. The Old White course, the host of this week’s tournament, was previously the stage for a 59 from Australian Stuart Appleby during a PGA Tour event in 2010.
22 Birdies? HOW?
DeChambeau’s victory was marked by an incredible run of birdies, with 22 of his last 34 holes ending under par. This win is his first since the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. It also marks his first victory since the passing of his father, Jon, last November at age 63, after a long battle with kidney disease.
Bryson DeChambeau felt his father’s presence during his record-breaking round, stating, “He was with me out there all day today, no doubt.” He added, “It has been a really difficult couple of years, but doing it this way and finishing out with a 58… it’s just amazing what I was able to do. I’m super excited.”
This victory, marked by a record-equalling round, is a testament to DeChambeau’s resilience and determination. His performance at the LIV Golf Greenbrier Championship will be remembered as one of the greatest in golf history, a testament to the magic that can happen when talent, hard work, and a little bit of luck come together on the golf course.