Where From Here?: What Happened to the 3 Prior Mr. 59s
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 8, 2010 9:28 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintIn 1977, Al Geiberger became the first man to shoot 59 in a PGA Tour round. He did that at age 40 in the Memphis Classic, which he won. The original Mr. 59 won just once more in his PGA Tour career - the '79 Colonial.
Fourteen years later, Chip Beck accomplished the feat in Las Vegas. He was 35. Unlike Geiberger, he did not win the tournament that week. The 59 did not translate into future victories, either. He hoisted just one more trophy in his PGA Tour career.
David Duval won the 1999 Hope with the best final round in the history of the PGA Tour. Remember Mike Tirico's Comic Book Guy call? "Best final round. Ever!" He broke the string of Geiberger and Beck. In fact, Duval's 1.5 majors - the British Open and Players Championship - were captured after he broke 60. He was also the first (and still only) player to shoot 59 in his 20s on Tour.
By virtue of his 59 today, Paul Goydos becomes the fourth man in PGA Tour history to go sub-60. Of the three prior men to do this, Goydos resembles Geiberger most in age (46) and Chip Beck in total wins. With such a small sample set, it is almost impossible to gauge what - if anything - shooting 59 will do for Goydos this week, or beyond.
Goydos himself clearly isn't sure.
Describing how quickly the moment came upon him seems to indicate how fleeting he know this can be.
"To me it kind of came upon me kind of quick. I had to birdie the last three holes. That could be part of it, but the reality is I don't have any idea."
He later added, "I played good, but I could have played good and shot 65 or 4. I played good and shot 59. There's something going on there that's maybe a little unexplainable."
And given the choice between shooting 59 one round and losing, or shooting a bunch of 65s and winning? Goydos would always take the W.
"You shoot a 59, you know, [and] I couldn't be happier and I couldn't be more excited and whatnot," he said. "But I'm here to win the golf tournament."
"Quite frankly, I'm 12-under. 12-under is not going to win this tournament."
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it is almost impossible to gauge what - if anything - shooting 59 will do for Goydos this week, or beyond.?
It will be in the record books forever and thats the beyond. The fact that he holds the one in four honor of having done it period is a huge deal, at least in my view. I met Paul at a charity dinner 4 years ago and he is a very honorable man and a Fan Favorite in every tounament he plays in. My hats off to you Mr. Goydos, you deserve the honor and your place in History.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
And he's the oldest to shoot a 59. Quite impressive.
by TXQ on Jul 8, 2010 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
unless you ask Stephanie – she makes it sound like he was cheating.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Geiberger did it up LCP rules, too. And Goydos talked about it in his press conference. The conference was great. He really was very calm and collected about what happened and what it really means.
Goydos is a FASCINATING guy.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 8, 2010 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
You have to love the level headedness of the man. He knows it’s just one score and he’s a long way from that plate of haggis and 20 year old Glenfiddich he’s thinking about.
The curse of 59 ? Geiberger won 11 times on Tour in a 25 year PGA Tour. At age 40 in 1977, he was on the down side of his big Tour career. LIke you said, he had one more win in him then 10 more on the Senior Tour. “Cursed” ? I don’t think so.
Chip Beck had a total of 4 wins in his PGA Tour career plus on one the Seniors Tour. How in the world does the word “curse” fit in there ? He was not a dominant force on Tour.
David Duval – most of us saw that performance . His 59 was in the middle of the hottest streak of his career, not the end. He had four more wins after his 59.
Goydos, like the other 3, is a very humble man who understands the achievement, and also understands that it just one day in a tournament.
Curse ? Are you trying to get an episode of Ghost Hunter filmed on Waggle Room ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
"You have to love the level headedness of the man."
Court, you’re funny even when unintentional. Goydos’s head is indeed perfectly level. Has his hats custom-made.
by TXQ on Jul 8, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
When I met Paul
Four years ago at the charity dinner, we chatted for about 15 minutes and I asked a lot of questions, including this one. Paul is there anything on the course that bugs you or that you wish you could change. And his answer was, “Sure there is, I wish one of those golf fashion Guru’s would manufacture a Shirt that I can buy off the rack”. Apparently, I’m the only one with these, (pointing) kind of shoulders. A very humble and polite man indeed.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
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