Hayden Springer posts eagle-birdie finish for 59 at John Deere - ESPN

SILVIS, Ill. — Hayden Springer posted the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history on Thursday, joining a rapidly expanding list with an eagle-birdie finish in the John Deere Classic for a 12-under 59.

Springer shot 27 on the front nine of rain-softened TPC Deere Run and tried to block out thoughts of a 59 or better. Then he made five straight pars and figured the chance had passed until he holed a 55-yard shot for eagle on the par-5 17th.

Needing a birdie for golf's magic number, his approach caught the slope and left him 12 feet short, and the putt was true all the way.

«Kind of at loss for words in terms of being able to do that,» Springer said. «I feel like that's one of the rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and pull it off, it feels pretty special.»

Hayden Springer is the fourth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59 in the opening round of a tournament. Two of the previous three ended up winning the event.

The PGA Tour record is a 58 by Jim Furyk at the Travelers Championship in 2016. Furyk also is among 13 players with a 59.

Any score that starts with a 5 remains special, although it is not quite as rare as it once was as players get better each year. Springer became the second player in three weeks to break 60. Cameron Young also had a 59 at the Travelers Championship.

On golf tours worldwide this year, it was the eighth sub-60 round. The lowest was a 57 by Cristobal del Solar of Chile in a Korn Ferry Tour event in Colombia.

Springer tied the record at the TPC Deere Run. Paul Goydos shot a 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic in 2010. Goydos had only a one-shot lead that year — Steve Stricker shot 60 the same day — and Stricker went on to win.

Springer played in the morning and had a