Michael Kim delivered a historic performance on Friday at the 3M Open, posting a 12-under-par 59 that marked only the 16th sub‑60 round ever recorded on the PGA Tour. The 33‑year‑old American surged to the top of the leaderboard at TPC Twin Cities, moving to 14‑under for the tournament and establishing a three‑stroke advantage after two rounds. Kim's flawless round began with a remarkable stretch of birdies from the third through the seventh hole, a run that set the tone for the rest of his day. He finished the round in spectacular fashion, carding four under par over his final four holes.
The climax came on the 18th, where he sank a dramatic 24‑foot birdie putt, sealing his 59 and cementing his place in PGA Tour lore. The American's putting was especially impressive.
Over the course of the round he made eight putts from ten feet or farther, a statistic that underscores how hot his short game was that day. His performance not only earned him a three‑shot lead but also tied him for second‑best 18‑hole scores in PGA Tour history, trailing only Jim Furyk’s legendary 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
While Kim celebrated his achievement, a trio of players shared second place. Ben Kohles, who entered the day with a two‑stroke lead, shot a 69 and fell into a tie with Chandler Phillips, who posted a 65, and Emiliano Grillo, who carded a 67.
Despite the tight competition, the spotlight remained firmly on Kim’s historic round. The 59 also placed Kim among an elite group of players who have broken the 60‑stroke barrier this season. Prior to his round, five golfers—Blades Brown, Wyndham Clark, Si Woo Kim, Andrew Putnam and Scottie Scheffler—had each recorded a 60, the lowest round of the 2026 PGA Tour up to that point.
Kim’s victory at the 3M Open adds to his modest résumé, which includes a lone PGA Tour win at the 2018 John Deere Classic. Reflecting on his near‑record performance, Kim said, "I putted awesome. I feel that I got just about everything I could out of that round. Some shots I didn't feel supremely confident over, but that's golf.
I was happy I got away with par on 13. But other parts of my game, like my putting, felt fantastic. When you hit a putt and it does exactly what you kind of envisioned before you hit it, it's an awesome feeling.
Felt like that all day out there." He also acknowledged the need to stay grounded moving forward. "It will be important for me to not compare myself tomorrow to today's round, even if I get off to a poor start or just an OK start, to not be so disappointed that I'm not playing as well as I did today. There's a long way to go and that guy named Scottie Scheffler is probably going to throw up a good score today anyway. Nowhere near done," Kim added.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who was tied for 13th after a disappointing 70, exemplified the tournament's volatility. Scheffler had begun the event strongly, climbing to nine‑under before a wayward approach on the 14th 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 a deep rough on the 18th rolled 34 feet past the hole. "Just got a bad break, but that happens," Scheffler said, ending the day with a birdie on 18 but acknowledging he would need a dominant weekend to chase his first victory since the Desert Classic in January.
Kim’s round also sparked discussion about the rarity of sub‑60 scores. Since the PGA Tour’s inception, only a handful of players have managed to break the 60‑stroke barrier, making each occurrence a noteworthy event. The most famous of these is Jim Furyk’s 58, which remains the all‑time low.
Kim’s 59, while one stroke shy of the record, joins an exclusive club that includes legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and recent stars such as Cameron Smith. Looking ahead, the 3M Open will continue on Saturday with live coverage on Sky Sports Golf starting at 7 p.m.
Fans can also stream the tournament without a contract, and a special promotion offers discounted rates for booking a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. As the competition intensifies, all eyes will be on whether Kim can maintain his momentum or if another contender, perhaps Scheffler, will surge back into contention. The tournament’s schedule remains packed, with the final round set for Sunday.
Golf enthusiasts can follow the action via the PGA Tour’s official schedule, streaming platforms, or traditional broadcast channels. For those interested in the broader context, the 2026 PGA Tour season features a diverse slate of events, ranging from major championships to invitational tournaments, each offering players the chance to earn valuable FedExCup points and secure their place in the season‑ending playoffs.
In summary, Michael Kim’s 59 at the 3M Open not only propelled him to the top of the leaderboard but also etched his name alongside the sport’s most elite performances. His blend of precise iron play, stellar putting, and composure under pressure exemplifies the qualities required to achieve a sub‑60 round. As the weekend unfolds, the golfing world will watch closely to see if Kim can convert his historic round into a tournament victory, and whether any other players can match the extraordinary level of play he displayed on Friday.