Roundup: Justin Thomas Shoots 59 At Waialae

There aren't many highlights due to the early nature of the round, here's PGATour.com's package. And GolfChannel.com's recap with Steve Sands and Frank Nobilo.

Doug Ferguson notes this in writing about Justin Thomas's opening-round 59 at the Sony Open.

He was five shots better than anyone in the morning, but his lead was only three shots by the end of the day. Hudson Swafford shot a 62 in the afternoon. Swafford made a birdie on his 12th hole, when his caddie told him, "We've got to make seven birdies on the last six holes to catch Justin."

The average score was 68.26.

Thomas put the round into great perspective, writes GolfDigest.com's Dave Shedloski:

His hard-fought victory over Hideki Matsuyama last week was highly satisfying. But to etch your name in the history books with one magical round has a certain cache and sparkle to it.

“I would say, on paper, it would be today,” Thomas said when he was asked if his win at Kapalua or his 59 at Waialae was more special. “History wise … I have a chance to win a golf tournament every week. I don’t have many chances to shoot 59.”

Rex Hoggard on the last hole decision Thomas made that set up an eagle putt.

Thomas’ drive found the bunker at the par-5 ninth hole. “I wanted to punch something,” he said. He appeared destined for a 10-under round on the par-70 layout, but Berger, who was in the same bunker off the tee, showed him the way.

It’s what friends do.

“It was sitting really good to where it felt like I could get a 6-iron or 7-iron on it and just get it short of the green. And then I hear [Berger’s] caddie say 4-iron for them,” Thomas said. “I was like, man, can I hit it on the green? I'm like, I guess I can hit it on the green, I don't know.”

Thomas said he “flushed” a 5-iron that cleared the lip of the bunker, sailed through the warm air and settled 15 feet left of the pin. He made the putt - of course he did, what else would one expect from a player who has won twice and finished in the top 5 in four of his last five starts?

Here is that last hole with Thomas watching:

Justin Thomas watches himself shoot 59.

Kind of surreal. pic.twitter.com/P4NKCWOjx0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2017

For the record ... pic.twitter.com/bZhlUgc4F0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2017

Hey @GolfHallofFame, got a spot for us? @PGATOUR @JustinThomas34 pic.twitter.com/fXtaxKoEt1

— PGA TOUR Media (@PGATOURmedia) January 13, 2017

Speaking of the eagle, Thomas became the first 59 or less shooter to have two in one round. Great stuff from the ShotLink guys comparing the 59s and Furyk's 58. Click to enlarge:

Comments

[Tremendous Slouch]

Ho hum. 59 is is the new 60.

[Hawkeye]

Interesting that the average age of the sub-60 shooters was as high as 39, with Duval the only player under 35. Maybe a cool, experienced head is a more valuable asset than youthful power and aggression in going super-low?

[Schlasser]

I realize this is going to make me sound like a fuss-pot but there has to be some sort of special designation for 59's shot on a par 72 golf course. 11-under par is terrific and well worth celebrating but it's not the same accomplishment as 13-under par.

[CroDad]

I didn't realize this is the home for the secret society of the "GET OFF MY YARD" club. 13 under is better than 11 under but remember that Thomas played just 2 par 5s.....and did so in 3 under par. As far as he "roasts" the driver it gives him fewer opportunities to take advantage of his length.
All in all his performance has been special. What hasn't bee noted much is how he tore up Kapalua (which is a bomber's paradise) and shot the 59 on a course that is the polar opposite of Kapalua.

[Steve]

What's the point in comparing all the 59's to Furyk's 58? That's the benchmark now. Its a nice piece of art in Justin's office but otherwise inconsequential

It's like all the talking heads claiming Hillary won the popular vote. BFD

[Press Agent]

No Steve, it's not like that, in fact it's completely different and you are wrong.
If you don't care for golf and you don't care for special rounds - that is fine. Go away and don't bother posting. But to say it's inconsequential, reveals your ignorance about golf and sport.

[CroDad]

Press Agent.
Amen! It was a great round the has punctuated a great week for the young man. The comments by some on here are comical: Ho-hum. Inconsequential. Comparing and disparaging Thomas' round to Hillary Clinton? Pretty pathetic.

[Paul]

First off, kudos to the young JT accomplishing this.

As someone else mentioned, a 59 on a par 70 v a 59 on a par 72 are not the same and maybe instead of referencing the feat by the score (ie 58, 59) should be referenced to shot '13 under' because then the list gets shorter (Geiberger, Beck, Duval) and it's a more equal feat. Not to take anything anyway from someone cracking 60.

So start calling it the '13 under club'?

[jim beckner]

Press Agent and CroDad - i agree with each of you, and these rounds are special. But these guys hit short irons into every green (almost every green), and a lot of them are wedges. Par 5's are hit in two shots. So they should be shooting 59's.

Yes, it was a great round and it punctuated a great week for the young man. And yes, it was consequential. But I'm sorry - I find 300+ yard drives and short irons and wedges pretty boring. That doesn't diminish the 59 - that is special. But I don't find golf as exciting as I once did.

jb

[Arbiter]

By definition, anyone who questions a score starting with 5 that was shot on the PGA Tour is not credible.

[BGC]

Longest last putt, too!

[Streaky Putter]

Is Furyk the only person to go under 60 and not win the tournament?

[John]

Look at that scorecard. Spieth and Thomas have signatures that would make Arnie proud. Then again, maybe on a card like that you're a little more sure that you're legible.

[PA PLAYA]

I'm looking at that scorecard initially and thinking... wait a minute. That doesn't look all that impressive.

Except it was, despite the bogey on the 11th.

A 59 is a 59. Maybe a bit less impressive versus a 59 on a par-72, but then again it's not like -11 is infinitely worse than -13.

Seems like a good kid, hoping he can keep it going.

[Pro From Dover]

Duval, Allenby, and Geiberger are the only sub 60 shooters to win the event they were playing in on PGA Tour. Wait and see re: Thomas this week.

Duval's and Alleby's came in final round for the win. Furyk's was in last round, he finished 3rd.

Geiberger and Duval were both -13 rounds.

Paul Goydos (-12), Chip Beck (-11), and Furyk (-12) did not win the event they shot their sub-60 rounds.

[WJ]

Waialae CC was played as a par 72 up until 1999 so it's not necessarily a pure par 70. As said earlier, a 59 is a 59 and still damned good!

[Pro From Dover]

They flip the nines for the Sony....the Sony #1 (#10 for members) is a Par 5 turned to a Par for the professionals. and on the Sony #13 (#4 for members), is another shortish Par 5 played as a Par 4 for the professionals.

[CroDad]

I've really been a fan of Thomas' for a while and it dawned on me today why: his go-for-broke style reminds me somewhat of a certain Spaniard who happens to be my all-time favorite golfer. I'm not comparing the two except for their VERY exciting ways of working it around the course.

[chico]

So 59 is the new 65!! cant believe anyone would think 59 could be even in the least bit ordinary. yes they hit the ball miles. Yes they hit a lot of greens with a wedge but 59 is special. Very special.

[Silly Bodkins]

I think that it is remarkable that Justin followed his 59 with a 64. In my experience, following up a career round with another very good round is very difficult.

Of note, both Zach Johnson and Bryce Molder shot 61 yesterday.

[Rgw]

What's the goal of the set-up crew, to play 72 holes with no player making a bogey? This is ridiculous.