Michael Kim delivered a spectacular performance on Friday at the 3M Open, posting a 12‑under‑par 59 that marked only the 16th sub‑60 round in PGA Tour history. The 33‑year‑old American surged into the lead after a flawless front nine, stringing together a run of birdies from the third through the seventh holes. He capped the round with a strong finish, carding four under par over his final four holes to finish at 14‑under for the tournament and establish a three‑stroke advantage after two rounds. Kim’s round was a masterclass in precision, particularly with his putting.
He sank eight putts from ten feet or farther, a statistic that underscored his confidence on the greens. The highlight came on the 18th hole, where he holed a 24‑foot putt for birdie, sealing his historic score.
While the low round of the 2026 season prior to Kim’s feat had been a 60—achieved by five different players including Scottie Scheffler—Kim’s 59 placed him joint‑second on the all‑time list of lowest 18‑hole scores, trailing only Jim Furyk’s 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship. The American’s achievement came as a surprise to many, given that his only PGA Tour win to date was at the 2018 John Deere Classic.
After the round, Kim reflected on his performance, saying, “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.
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.” Kim’s 59 also moved him into a tie for second‑best 18‑hole score in PGA Tour history, a distinction that only Furyk’s 58 surpasses. He noted that while the round was “pretty cool” and a historic moment, he must keep his composure moving forward.
“It will be important for me not to compare tomorrow to today’s round, even if I get off to a poor start or just an okay 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 said, emphasizing the need for consistency over the weekend. Behind Kim, 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 (65) and Emiliano Grillo (67). Despite their solid play, the day belonged unequivocally to Kim. World number one Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, struggled to match Kim’s brilliance.
After a promising start that saw him at nine‑under, Scheffler’s round unraveled on the 14th hole when an errant approach found water, resulting in a double‑bogey six. A subsequent poor tee shot on the par‑3 17th added another bogey, and a difficult second shot from a low‑lying lie in the rough saw the ball roll 34 feet past the hole.
“Just got a bad break, but that happens,” Scheffler remarked. He salvaged a birdie on the 18th to finish on a positive note, but his 70 left him tied for 13th at seven‑under, far off the lead.
The 3M Open, held at TPC Twin Cities, has historically produced low scores, but Kim’s sub‑60 round stands out as a rare achievement that brings him into the conversation for the PGA Tour’s all‑time best rounds. His performance also adds pressure to the rest of the field, as competitors must now decide whether to chase his score or play a more conservative game to stay within striking distance. Looking ahead, Kim will need to maintain his composure and avoid the temptation to chase the memory of his 59. The mental aspect of golf is often as critical as physical execution, and Kim’s own comments highlight his awareness of this balance.
If he can replicate even a fraction of his recent form, he could contend for the tournament title and perhaps add a second PGA Tour victory to his résumé. Fans can continue to follow the action on Sky Sports Golf, with live coverage scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
on Saturday. For those looking to experience the tournament firsthand, bookings are available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, offering a chance to play on courses that share similar challenges to those faced by the professionals at the 3M Open. In summary, Michael Kim’s 59 was a landmark moment in the 2026 PGA Tour season, showcasing a blend of flawless ball‑striking, exceptional putting, and mental resilience.
While the record‑breaking 58 remains out of reach, Kim’s achievement places him among an elite group of golfers who have managed to break the 60‑stroke barrier, and it sets the stage for an exciting weekend as he strives to convert his historic round into a tournament victory.