Unknown Golfer Makes History in First Round of John Deere Classic
Hayden Springer Shoots 59 To Grab Lead After 18 Holes
Coming into the first round of Thursday’s John Deere Classic, Hayden Springer likely didn’t expect to make fireworks or golf news on July 4. However, despite his recent struggles, the golfer who missed cuts in seven of his last eight tournaments did both, ultimately becoming the 14th player in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round.
🚨5️⃣9️⃣ Hayden Springer fires a Fourth of July 59 at the John Deere Classic! This is the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. Congrats @haydenspringer 👏☢️
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 4, 2024
Springer shot a 59 thanks to a 27 on the front nine of the TBC Deere Run course in Silvis, IL). While that put him in good stead for the magic number, he had to birdie the 15th, eagle the 17th from 55 yards before closing with a 12-foot birdie on the final hole to go below 60.
“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 has 12 feet for a 59 @JDClassic 😲 pic.twitter.com/oRpGttENJb
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 4, 2024
Golf odds that Springer would shoot such a round were long. He was one stroke off the all-time PGA best of 58 by Jim Furyk in the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Hayden Springer missed the cut in 7 of his 8 last starts.
He shot 59 today.
Golf. pic.twitter.com/P9ITjNeBpl
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 4, 2024
It was a marvelous round by any account. Springer shooting 59 was somewhat aided by a rain-softened course. Golf schedules often get tricky in the summer as players have to battle brutal heat and occasional thunderstorms that change courses dramatically.
If you aren’t a fan of Hayden Springer and his family, I can’t help you.
This is so awesome. And what a finish. Just very very cool. pic.twitter.com/WBOJbSlqx4
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) July 4, 2024
Who is Hayden Springer?
If you aren’t familiar with Springer, you aren’t alone. Talk about a perfect place to go to high school for a golfer, he attended Byron Nelson High School. Springer played college golf at Texas Tech and TCU, where he was the Big 12 champion, and earned his Tour card in December at Q-School.
In December, Hayden Springer earned his PGA TOUR card via Q-School.
Today, he shot just the 14th sub-60 round in TOUR history 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UkEXk2Mfal
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 4, 2024
That accomplishment is all the more incredible when you consider Springer and his wife Emma lost a 3-year-old daughter in November to Trisomy 18, which is a disorder in which babies are born with 3 copies of chromosome 18 instead of 2.
You might remember Hayden Springer, who just shot the 14th-ever sub-60 round, from him and his wife losing their young daughter.
One of the saddest stories you’ll read, but I’m sure his success is bringing his family much-needed joy: https://t.co/6mp703lUwQ
— Stephen Hennessey (@S_HennesseyGD) July 4, 2024
“Joy and grief are swirling together like they were put into a blender,” Emma wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of her, Hayden, Annie and a PGA TOUR card. “Each one magnifies the other. We are blessed. We are sad. We are joyful. Thank you to our village!”
That village had a memorable Fourth of July as Hayden Springer shot the round of his life to take the lead after 18 holes in the John Deere Classic.
Hayden Springer’s last year has been defined by determination and heartache. In November, he and wife Emma lost their daughter Sage at age 3 to Trisomy 18. A month later, he earned his @PGATOUR card thru Q-School.
Today, he shoots 59 at the @JDCLASSIC. pic.twitter.com/E6XGpRw2dY
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) July 4, 2024
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