CROMWELL (Connecticut) • Jim Furyk broke golf's magic number when he shot a record 12-under 58 at the Travelers Championship on Sunday, the lowest round ever on the PGA Tour.
The American, who previously was one of six players to card 59 on the tour, also became the first player to break 60 twice on an internationally recognised tour.
"(It is) pretty humbling, to think of all the great players, great names, to be the very lowest and the only person right now (to shoot 58) is pretty special," he told Golf Channel.
The 46-year-old compiled one eagle and 10 birdies in the final round at River Highlands and described it as a "wonderful day" and a completely unexpected one.
"After shooting two over par yesterday, being a little confused with my game, that was the farthest thing from my imagination going out this morning but got off to a great start and got in a great rhythm and just loved the way I was hitting the ball today," the 2003 US Open champion said.
Pennsylvania-born Furyk, a 17- time Tour winner, has made a career out of his machine-like consistency with his unique swing.
The world No. 23 was in that mode on Sunday, hitting all 18 greens in regulation.
He two-putted on the 18th green after setting the nine-hole record with an eight-under 27. He shot a 31 on the back nine in his closing round.
Scotland's Russell Knox sank a 12-foot putt on his closing hole to card a 68 for a 266 total and earn his second tournament victory of the season.
He finished one stroke ahead of first-round co-leader Jerry Kelly, who shot 64.
Furyk, who finished tied for fifth on 269, described his closing round as a grinding, mental struggle.
"I am hitting it well. I am putting it well. It is trying to find a way to stay out of your own way, really. Don't let any (negative) thoughts in," he said.
Fellow golfer Graeme McDowell said he has great respect for Furyk.
"Special round of golf there from Furyk," McDowell tweeted. "Cool to see how emotional he was. Golf is hard and days like that don't happen often. #58."
Chris DiMarco was amazed Furyk went so low.
"Wow. Congrats to Jim Furyk. What a round of golf!," the American golfer tweeted.
Furyk is the second player to card 58 on an internationally-recognised tour, joining Japanese Ryo Ishikawa, who shot 12-under 58 in the final round of the Crowns tournament on the Japan Tour in 2010.
There have also been several 58s on mini-tours, usually on easy courses, but 59 has long been considered golf's magic number on the major tours.
Al Geiberger in 1977 was the first player to post 59 on the PGA Tour, followed by Chip Beck (1991), David Duval (1999), Paul Goydos (2010), Stuart Appleby (2010) and Furyk (2013) - the first three at 13-under.
Though Furyk considers his record special, he also prides himself on staying competitive for so long. "(What) I'm proud of is my longevity ... to still be out here and have a little life, win last year, days like this, that's why it's keeping me around and playing well."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
