David Skinns of England missed a 9-foot putt for 59 but was thrilled to shoot a career-best and tournament-record 60 to take the lead after one round of the Sanderson Farms Championship on Thursday in Jackson, Miss.
Skinns teed off on the back nine at the Country Club of Jackson and rolled in six birdies on each nine. After watching a 54-foot birdie putt fall at the par-3 seventh hole, he hit his second shot at the par-4 eighth to about 2 feet to set up his 12th birdie.
But at his finishing hole, No. 9, Skinns’ chance at golf history turned left too quickly and he had to settle for par. At 12 under, he leads by three strokes over Michael Thorbjornsen.
Only 14 rounds of 59 have been recorded on the PGA Tour, including two earlier this year — by Cameron Young at the Travelers Championship and Hayden Springer at the John Deere Classic.
Skinns, 42, is a veteran of golf tours around the world who is gunning for his first PGA Tour title. He entered the week ranked No. 108 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings and could catapult to No. 63 with a win. The top 125 at the end of the fall are guaranteed a tour card for next year.
Thorbjornsen, a 23-year-old who turned pro earlier this year, put up nine birdies without a bogey for the second-best round of the day. Tied for third are Gary Woodland and Ben Griffin at 8-under 64.
Rickie Fowler opened with a 3-under 69, and defending champion Luke List shot a 3-under 70.
–Field Level Media
