Golf scoring records show how far skill and course conditions can push the game. They highlight moments when players matched precision, control, and opportunity in rare ways.
This topic looks at what counts as a low round and why these scores matter across pro and amateur play.
The lowest officially recorded round of golf is 55, shot by Rhein Gibson in 2012 on a par‑71 course. That number sets the benchmark for all-time scoring and frames how golfers judge other low rounds.
Scores like 58 and 59 also stand out and appear more often in top-level events.
These records span major tours, smaller tours, amateur events, and women’s golf. Courses play a key role, since layout, length, and conditions shape what becomes possible.
Defining Low Rounds in Golf
Low rounds in golf depend on clear rules, course setup, and competitive context. Governing bodies, tours, and record keepers decide which scores count and why certain rounds stand out.
What Constitutes a Record Low Round
A record low round must meet strict standards. Officials verify the course length, par, and playing conditions.
The round must also follow formal rules of golf. The lowest officially recorded golf score ever is a 55, shot by Rhein Gibson in 2012.
Guinness World Records recognizes this mark. Some other rounds of 55 exist, but many groups discount them due to short courses or non-competitive settings.
Professional tours apply tighter limits. On major tours, verified sub-60 rounds must occur during sanctioned events.
These rules help separate historic records from casual or exhibition play.
Evolution of Low Scoring Benchmarks
For decades, a round of 70 or better showed strong play. As equipment, fitness, and course setup evolved, scores dropped.
The focus shifted to breaking 60. Al Geiberger changed expectations in 1977 with the first 59 on the PGA Tour.
Since then, the list of players shooting 59 has grown across tours worldwide. The lowest rounds of golf now include multiple 58s and even a 57 on a second-tier professional tour.
Benchmarks continue to move. Course design and data-driven practice allow more players to chase record numbers.
Significance of Breaking 60
Breaking 60 signals near-flawless execution. A sub-60 round leaves little room for mistakes and demands consistent birdie chances.
On the PGA Tour, the lowest round in PGA history is 58, shot by Jim Furyk in 2016. Only a few players have matched that score since.
Sub-60 rounds also carry context:
- Round of 59: Rare but increasingly achievable
- 58 or lower: Exceptional and historic
- Competitive setting: Often weighs more than raw score
These rounds shape how fans and players view modern scoring limits.
All-Time Lowest Rounds Ever Recorded
Golf history includes a small number of rounds that sit far below par. These scores stand out because of strict record rules, course standards, and tournament settings.
The Official World Record: Rhein Gibson’s 55
The lowest golf score ever officially recorded is 55, shot by Rhein Gibson. He set this mark on May 12, 2012, at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The round took place on a par-71 course that measured about 6,850 yards. Gibson made 12 birdies and two eagles.
Record keepers accepted the score because the course met length and rating rules. Guinness World Records recognizes this round as the benchmark for the lowest rounds of golf.
Wikipedia details the round and explains why officials approved it as the official record: lowest officially recorded round of golf.
| Player | Score | Course | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhein Gibson | 55 | River Oaks Golf Club | 2012 |
Non-Tournament and Disputed Scores
Several players have also shot 55, but officials often discount these rounds. Most occurred in casual play, charity events, or on courses that fell short of required length.
In some cases, the tees played much shorter than normal. In others, the round lacked tournament conditions or proper verification.
These factors matter because golf records rely on consistent standards. Wikipedia lists these rounds but explains why they do not count as official world records.
Other Notable Sub-60 Performances
Many elite players have broken 60 under tournament pressure. These rounds often happen on long, championship courses with full rules in place.
Examples include multiple 59s on professional tours, which many fans view as golf’s practical limit. Today’s Golfer tracks these achievements and shows how rare they remain: lowest rounds of golf ever recorded on tour.
A few 58s have also appeared in top-level competition, including modern professional events. Golfshake documents these rounds and places them within the wider record debate: lowest rounds of golf in history.
Record Low Rounds on Major Professional Tours
Professional golf has produced a small number of rounds that changed record books across tours. These scores stand out because they happened in official events, under tournament conditions, and against elite competition.
PGA Tour: Jim Furyk’s 58 and the History of 59s
Jim Furyk holds the lowest round in PGA Tour history. He shot a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.
The round included 10 birdies and an eagle, with no bogeys. That score set the PGA Tour standard for low scoring, as detailed in coverage of the lowest rounds of golf.
Furyk remains the only player to shoot 58 in a PGA Tour event. Before Furyk, a round of 59 defined elite scoring.
Al Geiberger first reached that mark in 1977. Several players have since joined the 59 list, but none have matched Furyk’s record-setting day.
LIV Golf Milestones and Bryson DeChambeau’s 58
LIV Golf entered the record conversation in 2023. Bryson DeChambeau shot a 58 during a LIV Golf event at The Greenbrier.
The course setup allowed aggressive play, and DeChambeau capitalized with precise iron shots and short putting. The round matched the lowest score ever recorded in a top-level men’s professional event.
DeChambeau avoided mistakes and kept pressure on the field from start to finish. While LIV Golf uses a different format than traditional tours, the score itself remains clear and measurable.
DP World Tour and Portugal Masters Highlights
The DP World Tour reached a scoring milestone in 2018. Oliver Fisher shot a 59 at the Portugal Masters, becoming the first player to break 60 on that tour.
Fisher opened with birdies and maintained control throughout the round. The course conditions allowed scoring, but few players came close to his pace.
This round earned a place among the lowest rounds in professional golf history. It also set a benchmark for future DP World Tour events.
LPGA Tour and Standard Register Ping Brilliance
The LPGA Tour has its own historic low round. Annika Sorenstam shot a 59 at the 2001 Standard Register Ping event.
She became the first woman to record a 59 in an LPGA Tour tournament. Sorenstam’s round featured clean ball striking and steady putting.
She stayed aggressive without taking unnecessary risks. That performance remains one of the most important scoring records in women’s golf.
Record Low Rounds in Other Tours and Amateur Golf
Several tours outside the PGA Tour have produced record-setting rounds that reshaped expectations for elite scoring. These performances include historic 58s on established professional tours and rare sub-60 rounds in top amateur events.
Japan Golf Tour: Ryo Ishikawa and Kim Seong-hyeon
The Japan Golf Tour holds two of the most important low-round records in professional golf. Ryo Ishikawa shot a 58 in 2010 at The Crowns, becoming the first player to post that score on a major professional tour.
He finished the event at 12 under par for the round. More than a decade later, Kim Seong-hyeon matched that number.
He recorded a 58 at the 2021 Golf Partner Pro-Am, again at 12 under par. His round confirmed that Ishikawa’s score was not a one-time outlier.
Other notable Japan Golf Tour figures, such as Shigeki Maruyama, played during an era when sub-60 rounds were rare. This adds context to how exceptional these later scores remain.
| Player | Score | Event | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryo Ishikawa | 58 | The Crowns | 2010 |
| Kim Seong-hyeon | 58 | Golf Partner Pro-Am | 2021 |
Challenge Tour, Alps Tour, and Stunning 57s
Second-tier professional tours have also produced eye-catching numbers. On the Challenge Tour, Alejandro del Rey fired a 58 at the 2021 Swiss Challenge, finishing 14 under par for the round.
The score stood out for both its margin under par and the pressure of tournament play. Even lower, the modern benchmark on developmental tours is 57.
That mark has appeared on tours such as the Challenge Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. Events on the Alps Tour, including stops like the Cervino Open, have also seen extremely low scoring, though a 57 remains rare across all tours.
Players like John Hahn and Jason Bohn show how depth in professional golf continues to rise, even outside the main tours.
Amateur Feats: Dogwood Invitational and Druid Hills
Amateur golf has its own share of record rounds. One of the most notable came at the 2019 Dogwood Invitational, where Alex Ross shot a 57 at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta.
He played the par-72 course at 15 under par, including 13 birdies and one eagle. The Dogwood Invitational has long tested top amateur players, which makes Ross’s round stand out.
Druid Hills Golf Club, known for narrow fairways and firm greens, rarely yields such low scores. Earlier amateur standouts, including performances connected to events like the Bayer Championship, show that elite amateurs can match professional-level scoring when conditions and execution align.
This 57 remains one of the lowest documented rounds in competitive amateur golf.
Women’s Golf: Landmark Low Rounds
Women’s professional golf includes several scoring milestones that reshaped expectations. A single sub-60 round, multiple tour records in Europe, and standout performances in major championships define this history.
Annika Sörenstam’s Iconic 59
Annika Sörenstam set the benchmark for women’s professional scoring with a 59 on the LPGA Tour. She shot 13-under-par during the second round of the Standard Register Ping in 2001.
That round stands as the lowest score ever recorded on the LPGA Tour. It remains the only 59 in LPGA history.
Sörenstam paired precision with control. She avoided mistakes and converted birdie chances throughout the round.
The score also broke the previous LPGA record of 61. She went on to win the event.
Other Historic Scores on the Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour has produced several standout low rounds, even without a recorded 59. Players have pushed scoring limits across different eras and courses.
Trish Johnson posted multiple rounds of 61 during her LET career. Her scoring set early tour standards.
Jane Connachan recorded a 62 on the LET, a score that ranked among the tour’s best for years. Steady play and course setup created record chances.
Dale Reid also delivered rounds near the tour’s lowest marks. Her performances showed the growing depth of talent on the European circuit.
Breaking Barriers in Women’s Majors
Major championships usually produce higher scores because of course difficulty. Even so, women have posted record-setting low rounds under major pressure.
At the 2021 ANA Inspiration, Lydia Ko shot a final-round 62. That score became the lowest final round in LPGA major history.
Ko’s round included aggressive early scoring and steady play through the back nine. She did not win, but the score reset expectations for majors.
No woman has yet shot 60 or lower in a major. Ko’s 62 remains the closest mark to that milestone.
The Venues: Courses That Witnessed Record Rounds
Certain golf courses stand out because elite players produced record scores on them. These venues share traits like fair setups and receptive greens.
Location, design, and tournament context all played roles in these historic rounds.
Historic PGA Venues for Low Scoring
Several PGA Tour venues gained fame after hosting record-setting rounds. TPC River Highlands in Connecticut stands out.
Jim Furyk shot a 58 there during the 2016 Travelers Championship. That round is the lowest in PGA Tour history.
The course features short par fours and reachable par fives. Players who control distance gain clear scoring chances.
The Greenbrier also holds a place in scoring history. Its Old White course hosted multiple low rounds during PGA Tour events.
Wide fairways and soft greens allowed aggressive play, especially during calm weather.
Druid Hills Golf Club deserves mention for hosting competitive events with strong amateur and professional scores. Its classic layout rewards accuracy and helps create birdie chances.
International Courses of Note
Record rounds did not only happen on the PGA Tour. River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma gained global attention after Rhein Gibson shot a 55 there in 2012.
That score remains the lowest officially recorded round. The course played as a par 71 with moderate length.
Its design allowed skilled players to attack pins without extreme risk.
Outside the United States, some international courses also produced very low scores. These rounds often occurred during regional events with relaxed course setups.
While they may not carry PGA Tour status, they still meet official standards and count in record books.
Conditions and Course Setup Influencing Records
Course setup strongly affects scoring potential. Tournament officials often set pins in accessible spots during early rounds.
Soft greens allow players to stop the ball close to the hole. Weather matters just as much.
Calm winds and warm air increase distance and control. Players often post record rounds in morning conditions before winds rise.
Key setup factors that support low scoring include:
- Short rough that limits penalty for missed fairways
- Fast but true greens that reward confident putting
- Reachable par fives offering eagle chances
