Hayden Springer admits something happened during his opening round of 59 which really surprised him

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Unfancied PGA Tour star Hayden Springer stole the headlines on day one of the John Deere Classic after becoming only the 14th person in PGA Tour history to card a 59.

The 27-year-old made an eagle on his penultimate hole before carding a birdie on the 18th to make tour history.

Springer’s 12 under was the eye-catching round on a low-scoring day at TPC Deere Run.

Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, however, both endured tough first rounds despite making positive claims before the tournament.

Hayden Springer surprised by what happened to him on the 17th at TPC Deere Run

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Speaking to the Golf Channel after his round, Springer admitted he first knew he was playing well on the sixth hole.

“On number six, I came up just short of the green on the fringe,” he explained. “I had a 20-footer, and I made that. I was kind of like I feel like I am not missing today and holing every putt I look at. Probably that putt going in was kind of the trigger of going super low.”

The American went on to suggest his hole-out on 17 caught him by surprise en route to his first-ever 59.

He added: “When it went in on 17, I immediately knew I had a chance. I never thought I would make that shot, really. That changed the momentum to go and shoot 59.”

Hayden Springer’s 2024 PGA Tour record

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Before the start of this week’s John Deere Classic, very few would’ve predicted Springer to be leading on 12 under after the first round.

The American currently sits 236th in the OWGR and is 127th in the 2024 FedEx Cup standings.

And before last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, Springer had missed six consecutive PGA Tour cuts.

But, after a top-ten finish in Detroit, the 27-year-old is now firmly in contention heading into the weekend’s rounds.

Another top-ten finish or win would be significant. With FedEx Cup points at a premium, Springer landing his maiden PGA Tour win will give him an excellent chance of making it into the top 70 and competing in the first playoff event at the St. Jude Championship.