With the news of the 13 year old Guan Tian-lang becoming the youngest ever golfer to qualify for a European Tour event we became curious about other records set on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour. As you would expect there are some pretty impressive numbers in the record books and here are a handful of the most impressive records to date…
Highest number of birdies in a 72 hole tournament:
Mark Calcavecchia didn’t pay much respect to TPC Scottsdale at the 2001 Phoenix Open and fired in an incredible 32 birdies over the 72 holes of tournament play. Needles to say he won the event!
Most birdies in 18 holes:
During the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic, played at the Emirates Golf Club, Ernie Els fired an impressive 12 birdies while Darren Clarke matched the feat at the 1999 Smurfit European Open which was played at the K Club in Ireland.
Most consecutive birdies:
The evidently streaky Mark Calcavecchia also holds this record on the PGA Tour. During the 2009 RBC Canadian Open he rolled in an awesome 9 birdies in a row!
Fewest putts in 72 holes:
Of course the most important aspect of any hopeful champion’s game is putting. In the 2005 MCI Heritage tournament at the Harbour Town Golf Links, David Frost only needed to use his flat stick 92 times through 72 holes. To put that into perspective that equates to having 5 2 putts per round while 1 putting every other green!
While we’re on the subject I thought I’d mention that little known Stan Utley once took only 6 putts through nine holes in a pro tournament…blimey!
Lowest 9 hole score:
During the 2004 Wales Open at Celtic Manor Simon Khan of England shot a 27 through nine holes which is one of a handful of 27 shot on the European Tour.
On the PGA Tour, Corey Pavin only needed 26 blows through nine holes at the 2006 US Bank Championships!
Lowest 18 hole score:
There have been a whole host of 60s shot on the European Tour but perhaps the best is Jamie Spence’s 12 under effort at Crans-sur-Sierre in 1992 which saw him come from a record 10 shots behind to win in the final round.
Also tying that comeback record is Paul Lawrie who – with some considerable assistance – reeled in Jean Van de Velde in the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie.
The PGA Tour record for lowest 18 hole score is 59 set by a number of players including David Duvall. His 59 is perhaps the greatest round of golf ever played due to the fact that there was no luck involved whatsoever… there were no shots holed from the fairway; no monster putts holed from the next county; no lucky escapes from the trees. In fact the longest shot Duvall holed was a ten foot birdie putt which, in our eyes, makes this the finest round ever played.
Highest 18 hole score:
On the other end of the scale…Mark James shot 111 in the 1978 Italian Open at Pevero Golf Club.
Highest score on a single hole:
While we are having a chuckle at the pros floundering like we do every weekend we thought we would let you knew the highest single hole score on the PGA Tour is a whopping 18 by John Daly at the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational!
On the European Tour, Chris Gane once ran up a 17 at Gleneagles during the 2003 Diageo Championship!
Most consecutive cuts made:
Guan Tian-lang (the 13 year old who has recently qualified for the Volvo China Open on the European Tour) recently stated his newest goal is to become the youngest player to ever make a cut on the European Tour which led us to wonder the highest number of consecutive cuts in a row in professional golf. Unsurprisingly Tiger Woods holds this record with an incredible 182 consecutive cuts made between 1998 and 2005!
Largest winning margin:
Tiger also holds the record for the largest winning margin on the European Tour. Seeing as the US Open also qualifies as a European Tour event, Tiger’s mind blowing 15 shot victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 sets the bar.
The largest margin of victory on the PGA Tour however, stretches even further. Bobby Locke won the 1948 Chicago Victory National Championship by a staggering 16 shots, tying records set by J.D Edgar and Joe Kirkwood Sr. at the 1919 Canadian Open and 1924 Corpus Christi Open respectively.