Furyk's 59 During the BMW Championship brings more attention to past 59's

Jim Furyk

Friday the 13th will have a whole new meaning for Jim Furyk. On September 13th, during the second round of the BMW Championship, Furyk's name was added to a very special list of golfers. This list contains the names of the  few number of players who have shot a 59 during a PGA Tour event. Including Furyk's name, there are six names on the list. One female, Annika Sorenstam, has also managed to post a 59 at an LPGA tour event.

Furyk's incredible round came just days after he was left off the President's Cup team, an event he has been a part of for the past 15 years.

In 1977, Al Geiberger became the first player on the PGA Tour to shoot 59. He did this on the par 72, 7,200-yard long Colonial Country Club in Cordova, Tennessee, during the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. Nearly 40 years later, while Furyk was on his way to a historic 59, Geiberger was pulling for him. He admits that other players' attempts have only brought more attention to his 1977 round.

The Colonial Country Club has been considered one of the toughest courses on tour, and Geiberger's flawless round happened on a 102-degree, miserably humid day. "You ever go out in something like that, or say you had the flu and you are just trying to get through the day?" Geiberger asked. "You swing a little easier. You aren't thinking about score, but survival. That helped me shoot 59 too. I was thinking more about not collapsing and getting through the round, and then the round evolved from that."

 

Perhaps food for thought for all us non-PGA type golfers, too.

Geiberger lead the tournament by six shots after shooting his 59, only to lose the lead to Gary Player half-way through the final round. Shooting a 32 on the back nine that Sunday, Geiberger ended up winning the tournament by three shots.



The 59-display at the Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

Chip Beck became the second player on the PGA tour to shoot a 59. In 1991, during the third round of the Las Vegas Invitational, Beck completed this incredible task. With 13 birdies and 5 pars, he has the record for the number of birdies in a round. He ended up third in the tournament.

Beck watched Furyk's round on TV last month, and thought Furyk was on his way to start a new club -- the 58 club. "I thought he might hole it," he said, speaking about the approach shot on the 18th hole. "because after the drive, it was a pretty easy shot." Beck was happy to include Furyk in the exclusive 59 club. Shortly after Furyk's putt dropped, Beck tweeted: "Welcome to the club…6th man to shoot 59, well done Jim #59club.”




Both Geiberger and Beck's clubs used during these incredible and memorable rounds of 59 are on display at the Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum at Cinnabar Hills. Make sure to take an extra look next time you stop by beautiful Cinnabar Hills.