Michael Kim delivered a remarkable performance on Friday at the 3M Open, posting a 12‑under‑par 59 that stands as only the 16th sub‑60 round ever recorded on the PGA Tour. His flawless card propelled him to the top of the leaderboard at TPC Twin Cities, where he now sits at 14‑under after two rounds and enjoys a three‑stroke advantage over the field.
Kim’s round was a showcase of sustained excellence. He opened with a string of birdies from the third through the seventh hole, establishing an early rhythm that never faltered. The momentum continued into the back‑nine, where he closed with four consecutive birdies, finishing the round with a spectacular 24‑foot putt on the 18th to seal his 59. In total, Kim sank eight putts from ten feet or farther, a statistic that underscores how hot his putting was throughout the day.
While Kim was the story of the tournament, a trio of players shared second place. Ben Kohles, who entered the day with a two‑stroke lead, posted a 69 and fell into a tie with Chandler Phillips (65) and Emiliano Grillo (67). Nonetheless, the day belonged unequivocally to Kim, whose putting performance was nothing short of extraordinary. The 59 also places Kim joint‑second on the all‑time list for the lowest 18‑hole scores in PGA Tour history, trailing only Jim Furyk’s historic 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
The previous best round of the 2026 season had been a 60, achieved by five different players—Blades Brown, Wyndham Clark, Si Woo Kim, Andrew Putnam and Scottie Scheffler—making Kim’s achievement stand out even more. When asked about his round, Kim, who earned his sole PGA Tour victory at the 2018 John Deere Classic, said he felt he left nothing on the table. “I putted awesome,” he explained.
“I think I got everything I could out of that round. Some shots I wasn’t super confident about, but that’s golf. I was happy to make par on 13. The rest of my game, especially my putting, felt fantastic.
When you hit a putt that does exactly what you visualized, it’s an amazing feeling. It felt like that all day.” Kim’s previous best round on tour came at the 2023 Wyndham Championship, so the 59 represents a significant leap forward. He described the accomplishment as “pretty cool” and emphasized the need to stay grounded. “It will be important for me not to compare tomorrow’s round to today’s.
Even if I start poorly, I can’t be disappointed because I didn’t match this round. There’s a long way to go, and Scottie Scheffler will probably post a good score too.
I’m far from done.” Speaking of Scheffler, the world‑number‑one found himself tied for 13th after a disappointing 70 on a course that had been yielding low scores. After a solid start, Scheffler’s fortunes turned at the 14th when an approach landed in the water, resulting in a double‑bogey. A subsequent poor tee shot on the 17th led to another bogey, and a tricky second shot from deep rough rolled 34 feet past the hole. “Just got a bad break, but that happens,” he shrugged.
A birdie on the final hole gave him a positive finish, but he will need a stellar weekend to chase his first victory since the Desert Classic in January. Kim’s performance not only gave him a commanding lead but also injected fresh excitement into the tournament narrative. The 3M Open, known for its generous fairways and receptive greens, has historically produced low scores, yet sub‑60 rounds remain rare.
Kim’s 59 adds his name to an elite list that includes legends such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and, of course, Jim Furyk. While the record of 58 still stands, Kim’s achievement demonstrates that the barrier is within reach for modern players equipped with advanced equipment, refined swing mechanics, and meticulous course management. Looking ahead, the weekend promises to be a test of consistency. Maintaining a three‑stroke lead will require Kim to manage expectations and avoid the pitfalls of over‑confidence.
Golfers who have posted low rounds often struggle to replicate that performance under the pressure of leading a tournament. The mental discipline to treat each shot independently, as Kim himself noted, will be crucial. For fans, the action will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available without a contract. The tournament schedule remains packed, and the 3M Open will likely see several players attempting to climb the leaderboard in pursuit of a win.
Whether Kim can convert his historic round into a tournament victory remains to be seen, but his 59 has already cemented his place in PGA Tour lore for the 2026 season.