Cameron Young shot a 59, the lowest score on the PGA Tour in 4 years

CROMWELL, Conn. — Cameron Young made a par putt from just inside 10 feet for an 11-under 59 Saturday at the Travelers Championship, the first round of 60 on the PGA Tour in nearly four years.

Young made two eagles on the par 4s, chipping in with a wedge from 142 yards on the third hole and driving the 280-yard 15th hole to within 4 feet.

It was the 13th under-60 round since Al Geiberger first shot golf’s “magic number” at the 1977 Memphis Classic. Scottie Scheffler was the latest at TPC Boston in 2020 at The Northern Trust.

“I can’t say I expected it,” Young said. “I was playing better than the results showed. Waking up this morning, I really didn’t think I was going to be 5 under going into the fourth. It was a lot of fun to do.”

This did not even earn Young the distinction of owning the course record at TPC River Highlands. Jim Furyk shot a 58 in 2016 at the Traveler Championship, the lowest round in PGA Tour history.

Jordan Spieth became a footnote in history as the only PGA Tour player to double play with a 59. Spieth was also in a tie with Justin Thomas when he shot a 59 in the opening round of the 2017 Sony Open.

Young was able to lift, clean and place his golf ball in the short grass due to the wet course conditions and the force of the heavy rain.

He could go even lower. After his eagle on the 15th hole, Young hit his shot 7 feet on the par-3 16th and missed a short birdie putt. On the closing hole, needing a birdie to tie Furyk’s record, his drive landed in the steep fairway bunker and Young couldn’t find the green.

He made the seventh round of 59 or less this year on the world tour.

“Having a day like today where things start to come in, and it feels like a reward for a good shot, leaves a good taste in my mouth,” Young said.

He finished 13-under par and tied with Tom Kim, who was watching Young’s other round on a video screen in the practice area as Kim prepared for the start of his third round. Young had one of six rounds of 64 or better before the leaders split.

The other six rounds of 59 or less this year include Joaquín Niemann at LIV Golf and the 57 put together by Cristobal del Solar at the Korn Ferry Tour in Bogota, Colombia.