Jordan Spieth is the only man in the history of the PGA Tour to have witnessed two playing partners shoot a 59, but the three-time major champion insists neither are the best rounds he has seen.
Spieth was playing alongside Cameron Young when he fired a stunning 11-under-par 59 at TPC River Highlands in the third round of the Travelers Championship on Saturday, seven years on from teeing it up with close friend Justin Thomas at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Thomas drained a lengthy eagle putt at the last to break 60 in sensational style.
But Spieth insists the 60 newly-minted U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau carded at the 2021 BMW Championship was better than both. Spieth watched DeChambeau make a mockery of the par-72 layout at Caves Valley, only to narrowly miss out on a sub-60 round after missing a six-footer at the last.
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“I would say Bryson that day because it was a par 72,” Spieth replied when quizzed about the best round he has seen in his career. “That might be the answer on those three rounds.
“I remember thinking both Cam and Justin were right in it at the beginning. There’s definitely an argument for JT because he knew he needed eagle [on the final hole] and made a 15-foot slider. That’s a little bit different. That was the most clutch of the three.”
The data suggests Spieth's bold claim is correct. DeChambeau gained 9.913 on the field during his stellar round at Caves Valley, with Thomas' 59 coming in at 9.249 strokes gained. Young's ranked third, with 7.845 strokes gained amid prime scoring conditions throughout the tournament at TPC River Highlands.
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DeChambeau's sparkling 60 at Caves Valley was so impressive statistically that it ranks better than the remarkable 58 he shot at LIV Golf Greenbrier last year. DeChambeau romped to a six-stroke victory after his sensational round, but according to strokes gained, his performance at the BMW Championship was more impressive.
The Greenbrier was a particularly soft test that week – just three PGA Tour venues have had lower average scores in the past 20 years – meaning DeChambeau gained 8.74 strokes on the field when carding his 58.
Young, the world No. 23, has endured a frustrating season. The 27-year-old is arguably the best player on the PGA Tour without a victory to his name, suffering numerous near misses. But his performance at the Travelers was a reminder of his supreme talent.
“I can’t say I was expecting it,” Young said. “I’ve been playing better than the results have shown. Waking up this morning, I wasn’t really thinking I was going to be five-under through four. It was a lot of fun to do. To have a day like today where things start going in, and it feels like you’re rewarded for good shots, it leaves me with a good taste in my mouth.”
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