Michael Kim Makes PGA Tour History at 3M Open With 16th sub-60 Round

Michael Kim made 12 birdies and 0 bogeys in the 2nd round of the 3M Open to card the 16th sub-60 round on the PGA Tour.

Michael Kim Makes PGA Tour History at 3M Open With 16th sub-60 Round

Michael Kim (Image via X/@PGATOUR)

Michael Kim etched his name in PGA Tour history on Friday. The American international carded just the 16th sub-60 round on the Tour with an incredible score of 59 at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.

The 33-year-old started the day at 2-under par for the tournament following an opening round score of 69. Having missed the cut at The Open Championship last week, he was hoping to improve his score from Thursday and was trying to secure his status for this weekend.

Nobody would have imagined how the day would end for him. After making pars on the first two holes, he went on a heater.

Kim carded 5 straight birdies from holes 3 to 7 before making his 6th birdie on the front nine. Birdies on the 10th and 12th holes saw him go 8-under par for the round.

Following 2 more birdies on holes 15 and 16, he knew he had a chance for history on the 17th hole. The 1-time PGA Tour winner holed a 17-foot birdie on the 17th and a 24-foot birdie on the 18th to fire a round of 59.

With 12 birdies and 0 bogeys, Kim shot the 16th sub-60 round on the PGA Tour. Jake Knapp was the last one to accomplish this feat, having done so in the first round at the 2025 Cognizant Classic.

RELATED
Former World No.1 Martin Kaymer Claims LIV Golf’s Team Championship Event in Doubt Amid Financial Crisis

Michael Kim admitted being nervous on the 18th hole

After 11 birdies, Michael Kim needed one more putt to go in to card a sub-60 round. He was able to keep his composure and drain a 24-foot putt on the 18th hole to finish with a round of 59. He later admitted that he was nervous when he arrived here.

Michael Kim
Michael Kim (Image via Golf)

The 2018 John Deere Classic winner is highly active on social media. After his rounds, he often shares his thoughts and offers his insights on X. On Friday, he was a bit more eager to break down his performance.

In the post, he admitted he was feeling the nerves at the tee. His 3rd shot on the hole bounced back a little bit and could have ended in the water. Fortunately for him, it stayed on the green, and he was able to make a 24-foot birdie.

I was feeling pretty nervous on the tee. … As it was 3ft out, it was tracking and I was hoping I didn’t hit it too hard for it to lip out… and it went in! Unreal day. Happy to be in the history books

Michael Kim on X

If he had missed the birdie putt on the final hole, he would have shot 60. While a score of 60 or 61 is also good, he would have missed out on the chance to join an exclusive club.

RELATED
Scottie Scheffler Claims Not Being Fan Of “Personal Jabs” Following Rory McIlroy-Bryson DeChambeau Saga at The Open

Michael Kim knows the job is not done despite a sub-60 round

Michael Kim became just the 15th golfer on the PGA Tour to shoot a score below 60 in an official tournament. While this is a historic feat, he knows the job is not done yet.

Michael Kim
Michael Kim (Image via PGA Tour)

Carding a sub-60 round does not always guarantee a win. Out of the previous 15 instances, only 5 have resulted in victories. The last time this happened was at the 2018 Wyndham Championship when Brandt Snedeker shot an opening round score of 59.

2018 was also the year when Kim recorded his only victory on the PGA Tour. With his 12-under-par round on Friday, he jumped up 42 positions and climbed to the top of the leaderboard. He is 14-under par, 3 shots ahead of Ben Kohles, Emiliano Grillo, and Chandler Phillips.

This is also just the 2nd time in his career that he is the 36-hole leader. The only other time was when he won the John Deere Classic in 2018. Several eyes will thus be on him on Saturday as he hopes to end a long winless run on the PGA Tour.

Also Read: