Does shooting a sub-60 round get less exciting? During the 2025 Cognizant Classic, Jake Knapp established himself as one of the top players by becoming the 15th player in history to record a perfect 12-under-par 59. But while praises came in, there were whispers of doubt: was this achievement becoming too routine to be unique anymore?

Although Knapp’s incredible effort at PGA National’s Champion Course cemented his place in the sport’s annals, several detractors questioned whether the growing number of sub-60 rounds was lessening their importance. When seasoned veteran Shane Lowry intervened to correct the record and highlight the extreme difficulties of attaining such a rare score, the argument heated up. Let’s delve in.

After Knapp’s 59, Shane Lowry demands greater respect

Shane Lowry, who never hesitates to voice his opinions, was outspoken in his support of Knapp’s achievement. Speaking at the Cognizant Classic, Lowry stated that shooting 59 is an amazing accomplishment no matter how frequently it occurs. “No, no. It’s hard to shoot low. I don’t care if it’s on a municipal course of 6,500 yards,” Lowry stated. When questioned if sub-60 shots were becoming less prestigious, Lowry responded forcefully, “To shoot 59 is impressive.” His remarks emphasized the tremendous challenge that professional golfers encounter, especially on PGA Tour courses that test the mettle of the world’s top players.

Additionally, he addressed the idea that some golfers and even golf fans were starting to minimize these kinds of accomplishments. He continued, “I also don’t think people realize how hard the courses are we play on TOUR.” Lowry’s impassioned reaction demonstrated the mental and physical fortitude needed to drop that low in a competitive round.

More significantly, he provided context for Knapp’s achievement by contrasting it with another exceptional round from the same competition. “Jake’s round yesterday was unbelievably impressive. Daniel Berger’s round was very impressive, and he beat him by four.” The fact that Knapp’s 59 outperformed even the greatest efforts of other top golfers simply served to highlight how exceptional it was.

Lowry made the straightforward request that instead of downplaying these achievements, they be recognized and celebrated. Making flawless strokes isn’t enough to shoot a sub-60 round; you also need to maintain perfection throughout 18 holes, which calls for a unique blend of accuracy, concentration, and mental toughness. As discussions go on, Lowry’s remarks remind us that tremendous accomplishments in golf, like in life, are worthy of great praise. Karl Vilips addressed the issue, echoing Lowry’s views and reiterating why a round that finishes below 60 will always be exceptional. Let’s dig in to see Vilip’s viewpoint.

Karl Vilips weighs in: 59 will always be special

In keeping with Lowry’s views, young Australian golfer Karl Vilips added to the discussion by offering his own thoughts on the subject. Vilips was adamantly opposed to the question of whether sub-60 rounds were becoming less noteworthy. “I think it’s still extremely notable. A 59 is a 59, especially out here,” he remarked. Although golf is changing and players are improving, Vilips admitted that it is still hard to achieve such a number. “I watched a little bit of it in the morning kind of waiting for my round. But out here, that’s pretty crazy. You’ve got to hit it amazing off the tee. You’ve got to flush it into the greens. You’ve got to make putts all day for 18 holes.”

His findings supported the notion that a sub-60 round requires near-perfection in every facet of the game and is not solely dependent on natural talent. Knapp’s round wasn’t simply superb at a difficult course like PGA National; it was among the greatest 59s ever recorded. Vilips thinks that even though there will undoubtedly be more sub-60 rounds in the future, their reputation will hold steady. “But I’m sure there will be plenty more to come just because everyone is getting so good.”

Every under-60 round is a cause for celebration in the history of golf. No matter how often it occurs, attaining such a score will never be ordinary, as both Shane Lowry and Karl Vilips have stressed. Even though the game is changing and records will be broken, a 59 will always be considered the pinnacle of golfing brilliance.