Michael Feagles. Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Korn Ferry pro birdies last five holes to shoot 59

By Gerrit Ritt | Last updated 6/8/23

Michael Feagles shot just the 24th sub-60 round in the history of the four major U.S. golf tours when the 25-year-old fired a 59 at the Korn Ferry Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am on Thursday.

Feagles is in his second full season as a pro, and he had missed the cut in seven of the previous 10 tournaments he's played in this season. However, after shooting 11-under on Thursday, he now leads the field after the first round.

After shooting a 30 on the front nine on Thursday, Feagles saw himself just 7-under with five shots to play. But after birdieing just one of his first four holes on the back nine, the Illinois grad found his groove again, finishing with five straight birdies, including this one on his final hole to break the 60 barrier.

59 ALERT

Michael Feagles finishes with five straight birdies @BMWCharityProAm to record the ninth sub-60 round in #KornFerryTour history. pic.twitter.com/AHAHT1vHDy
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) June 8, 2023

Feagles hasn't exactly been tearing it up during his pro career. His 59 was five shots better than any other round he's shot as a pro, and he's still searching for his first Tour win.

Prior to 2010, only three golfers in history had shot under 60, starting with Al Geiberger in 1977, followed by Chip Beck in 1991 and again by David Duval in 1999, all of whom shot 59.

But in the last 13 years, it's become more and more common, happening 21 times, including once already on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, when Mac Meissner did so in April with an eagle on the 18th hole to clinch it.

Twelve of those historic 24 rounds have happened on the PGA Tour, the last being then-rookie Scottie Scheffler in 2020. With his feat, Feagles became the ninth player on the Korn Kerry Tour to do so.

Annika Sorenstam is the only LPGA member to achieve the feat, doing so in 2001. And two members of the PGA Champions Tour (for players 50 and over) have done so as well.

As for Feagles, you may recognize the last name. His uncle, Jeff, spent an amazing 22 seasons in the NFL as one of the best punters in the sport. The two-time All Pro and Super Bowl XLII champion with the Giants played in an NFL-record 352 straight games and holds four NFL records overall.

12 birdies = 59 for Michael Feagles

His career lowest round was a 64 before going off in the first round @BMWCharityProAm. pic.twitter.com/p7tPA3mDRE
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) June 8, 2023