
via Reuters
Golf – The 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain – July 12, 2022 Tiger Woods of the U.S. during a press conference REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

via Reuters
Golf – The 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain – July 12, 2022 Tiger Woods of the U.S. during a press conference REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Unlike many sports, golf is scored in reverse. This means that the lower the score, the higher one is on the leaderboard. Despite being confusing, this has set a base for the most elite golfers in the world, and that stands at 60. Golfers who score less than 60 in a single round are declared to be the best of the best. And recently a 17-year-old Australian golfer joined their ranks. He’s beaten many golf legends’ low scores including that of Tiger Woods. Well, at least when it comes to PGA Tour events!
Rising star creates an all-time low-round course record
Billy Dowling, a 17-year-old rising star golfer in Australia, recently made history at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club. Playing a bogie-free round, the young golfer set the course’s lowest round record of 59. Dowling shot 12 birdies and six pars to finish the round in 59 shots, joining the ever-rare cohort of shooters to shoot a score below 60 in a single round. And possibly the youngest player to ever do so!
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The club celebrated this moment, boasting about the youngster’s achievement all over social media. Taking to Instagram, they congratulated him and wrote, “Congratulation to Surfers Paradise Golf Club Member- Billy Dowling.” The 17-year-old was competing in the Members Blue Tee Competition when he broke the record. With a handicap of +5, he had 43 Stableford points.
Read More – What Is the Lowest 72-Hole Score in PGA Tour History?
As an amateur too, Dowling has had a remarkable career. This year, at the Concord Cup and the Avondale Amateur, he finished in the top five, and he’s currently within the top 1000 of the World Amateur Rankings, with his best-ever ranking being 698th.
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Has Tiger Woods ever hit a 59?
Dowling’s achievement has many wondering if Woods is part of this elite cohort of golfers who’ve broken 60. Well, putting it bluntly, he is. But unfortunately, not on the PGA Tour! On the Tour, the 15-time major winner’s lowest score is 61, which he’s recorded four different times in four different events. The latest was in 2013, during the WGC-Championship at Firestone.

USA Today via Reuters
May 21, 2022; Tulsa, OK, USA; Tiger Woods puts on the 18th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
When then did Woods get his low score of 59? Well, that came back in April 1997. A week before he won his first major championship at Augusta, the legend was playing alongside Mark O’Meara at his local course, the Isleworth in Florida. It was there that he carded his first and only round of 59. His iconic record’s scorecard was even hung at the course until it was lost in 2014.
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Watch This Story – Phil Mickelson again roasts his arch-rival, Tiger Woods
Do you think Woods can now achieve an extraordinary feat like this on the PGA Tour? Or perhaps Dowling could do so once he turns pro? Let us know in the comments below.
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