Which of Golf's 59s was the Best?

[iacas]

Vote in the poll above, and give your reasoning in this thread.

[srjorion]

Al`s. The first, and only one for over a decade. Much harder when it has never been done.

[saevel25]

I pick Annika for the following reason,

She is the ONLY pro female golfer to card a 59. That shows that it is harder for a LPGA player to shoot a 59 than it is for the PGA golfers. I think it is harder because men hit the ball longer, they hit the ball higher, they tend to have better short games as well. This is why it impresses me more that Annika shot a 59.

[tmac20]

Jim Furyk; 59 with a bogey on a relatively difficult course is very impressive.

[David in FL]

Al`s. The first, and only one for over a decade. Much harder when it has never been done.

Agree.

[boogielicious]

Paul Goydos because frankly, he has the shape and walk of a penguin and to shoot a 59 with that handicap is simply amazing.  Plus, he is the funniest of this group.

[iacas]

• Al Geiberger, 1977, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (-13)
• Chip Beck, 1991, Vegas Invitational (-13)
• David Duval, 1999, Hope Chrysler Classic (-13)
• Annika Sörenstam, 2001, Standard Register PING (-13)
• Paul Goydos, 2010, John Deere Classic (-12)
• Stuart Appleby, 2010, Greenbrier Classic (-11)
• Jim Furyk, 2013, BMW Championship (-12)

Goydos is out. Only a -12, and Stricker shot 60 the same day.

Appleby is out for "only" shooting -11.

Chip Beck is out because those were easy courses, and he gets no bonus points for being the second guy to do it.

That leaves…

• Al Geiberger, 1977, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (-13)
• David Duval, 1999, Hope Chrysler Classic (-13)
• Annika Sörenstam, 2001, Standard Register PING (-13)
• Jim Furyk, 2013, BMW Championship (-12)

Geiberger is in because he was the first.

Annika because she was the first woman.

Duval hit so many shots inside of 3 feet it was such a spectacular ball-striking day it almost defies the odds more than any other 59.

Furyk is in because he shot 59 on a day when 65 was the next best score and the scoring average for the week was over par .

I'm still thinking. I'll answer later…

[Jmdmbike]

I'll say Al Geiberger as well because he was the first.

[MEfree]

Al Geiberger, 1977, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (-13)

Chip Beck, 1991, Vegas Invitational (-13)

David Duval, 1999, Hope Chrysler Classic (-13)

Annika Sörenstam, 2001, Standard Register PING (-13)

Paul Goydos, 2010, John Deere Classic (-12)

Stuart Appleby, 2010, Greenbrier Classic (-11)

Jim Furyk, 2013, BMW Championship (-12)

Goydos is out. Only a -12, and Stricker shot 60 the same day.

Appleby is out for "only" shooting -11.

Chip Beck is out because those were easy courses, and he gets no bonus points for being the second guy to do it.

That leaves…

Al Geiberger, 1977, Danny Thomas Memphis Classic (-13)

David Duval, 1999, Hope Chrysler Classic (-13)

Annika Sörenstam, 2001, Standard Register PING (-13)

Jim Furyk, 2013, BMW Championship (-12)

Geiberger is in because he was the first.

Annika because she was the first woman.

Duval hit so many shots inside of 3 feet it was such a spectacular ball-striking day it almost defies the odds more than any other 59.

Furyk is in because he shot 59 on a day when 65 was the next best score and the scoring average for the week was over par.

I'm still thinking. I'll answer later…

Good points- I am torn here also, but think Duval should get extra points for his being in the final round and winning by a single shot.  While Furyk's may have been better than Duval's based on overall course difficulty, the next best score when Duval shot his 59 was 64 (by Goydos & Stricker), so he was best by 5 rather than 6 that day.

For Geiberger, the second best score of the week was 65, so not only was he first, but his 59 was best by a pretty wide margin.  He said in his book that he didn't think it made much difference, but it should be noted that they were playing lift, clean and place that day (not because of wet conditions, but because parts of the fairway,  that he said he avoided, were in bad shape).

[Gunther]

Good points- I am torn here also, but think Duval should get extra points for his being in the final round and winning by a single shot.  While Furyk's may have been better than Duval's based on overall course difficulty, the next best score when Duval shot his 59 was 64 (by Goydos & Stricker), so he was best by 5 rather than 6 that day.  For Geiberger, the second best score of the week was 65, so not only was he first, but his 59 was best by a pretty wide margin.  He said in his book that he didn't think it made much difference, but it should be noted that they were playing lift, clean and place that day (not because of wet conditions, but because parts of the fairway,  that he said he avoided, were in bad shape).

Didn't know that about Al's. That disqualifies him from my perspective. I think it's Duval's since he came back and won the tourney on Sun with that round.

[CarlSpackler]

Pretty poor logic here, but I went with Duval because I was watching it and feel somehow emotionally connected to it.

[bkuehn1952]

Duval because it was the last round and he won.  He made eagle on the last hole and won the tournament by 1 shot.  I think when he started the day he was 6 or 7 shots out of the lead.

[SavvySwede]

Al for me. Far more tough to post that kind of number with a balata ball that curves off line much more than today's modern balls.

[deadon500]

Duval for me  ----- has to be the best I have seen to this day for 18 holes solid play

[mvmac]

Agree it's between Geiberger, Annika and Duval. I voted for Geiberger because he was first, he did it with balata balls and persimmon woods, course was 7,249 yards which is pretty long in '77 and the temperature was 100 degrees. Duval is a close second IMO; final round, laser like ball striking, eagle on the last hole to win by one.

Here's what Geiberger said about LCP

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2012/06/remembering-al-geibergers-59-on-its-35th-anniversary.html

Quote:

"We were playing improved lies, but I don't ever remember doing it," he said in a phone interview on the 35th anniversary. "As you came off every tee, there was a dip in the terrain where they had winter kill. But the fairways, where we were playing to, were pretty nice. I think the field staff didn't want to go chalk off every canyon. Most of the low areas that were damaged, we were playing over those."

[David in FL]

Agree it's between Geiberger, Annika and Duval. I voted for Geiberger because he was first, he did it with balata balls and persimmon woods, course was 7,249 yards which is pretty long in '77 and the temperature was 100 degrees. Duval is a close second IMO; final round, laser like ball striking, eagle on the last hole to win by one.

Here's what Geiberger said about LCP

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2012/06/remembering-al-geibergers-59-on-its-35th-anniversary.html

My problem with Duval is that the final round notwithstanding, it was just such an easy course.  The eagle on the last was a helluva finish though!

[PuttsLefty]

Duval because it was the last round and he won.  He made eagle on the last hole and won the tournament by 1 shot.  I think when he started the day he was 6 or 7 shots out of the lead.

This^

[RJH999]

I'd give it to Duval. Furyk was impressive as well due to the fact that he had a bogey. Appleby and Goydos: Meh. Duval came back in the final round to shoot -13 and win.