The Unbreakable: 5 Most Shocking Lowest Scores In PGA Tour History (Updated 2025)
The pursuit of the perfect round in professional golf is a never-ending quest, and the PGA Tour scoring records stand as the ultimate benchmark of excellence. As of the current date, December 19, 2025, the all-time marks for the lowest scores—from a single 18-hole round to a complete 72-hole tournament—have been pushed to astonishing new limits, with one key record falling in the 2025 season.
The modern era of golf, characterized by advanced equipment, meticulously conditioned courses, and supremely athletic players, has made the "unbreakable" records more vulnerable than ever. This comprehensive guide details the absolute lowest scores in PGA Tour history, the legendary golfers who achieved them, and the recent, mind-blowing record that reset the standard for scoring relative to par.
The Absolute Record: Lowest 18-Hole Score (The "58 Club")
The single most incredible scoring feat in PGA Tour history belongs to one man, who not only joined the exclusive "59 Club" but then shattered it entirely. The lowest 18-hole score ever recorded in an official PGA Tour event is a monumental 58.
Jim Furyk: The Solo Member of the '58 Club'
The Record: 58 (12-under par)
The Player: Jim Furyk
The Tournament: Final Round of the 2016 Travelers Championship
The Course: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
Jim Furyk, known for his distinctive, looping swing and his reputation as one of the Tour's most consistent players, achieved the impossible on Sunday, August 7, 2016. Already one of a handful of players to have shot a 59 (which he did at the 2013 BMW Championship), Furyk’s final-round performance at the TPC River Highlands was a masterclass in precision golf.
Starting the day well back from the leaders, Furyk began his round with a birdie on the 1st hole and never looked back. He carded 10 birdies and an eagle, requiring only 24 putts for the entire round. The 58 was a 12-under par score on the par-70 course, a number that many believed was simply unattainable in a professional competition. This spectacular score is a testament to Furyk's relentless focus and remains the gold standard for single-round scoring excellence. The 58 is a record that stands alone, cementing Furyk's place in golf folklore.
It is important to note that a round of 59 has been achieved 12 times in PGA Tour history by 11 different players, including Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval, Paul Goydos, Stuart Appleby, Justin Thomas, Adam Hadwin, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Chappell, Scottie Scheffler, and Jim Furyk himself (twice). However, the 58 remains the undisputed lowest score.
The New Pinnacle: Lowest 72-Hole Score to Par
While the absolute score is important, the "score to par" often gives a better indication of a player's dominance, as it neutralizes differences in course difficulty. In a stunning display of power and precision, this record was recently shattered.
Hideki Matsuyama’s Unbelievable -35 at The Sentry 2025
The Record: -35 (35-under par)
The Player: Hideki Matsuyama
The Tournament: The Sentry (formerly the Mercedes Championship), 2025
The Course: Kapalua Plantation Course, Maui, Hawaii
In a historic start to the 2025 PGA Tour season, Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama delivered a performance that rewrote the record books for scoring relative to par. Winning The Sentry in astonishing fashion, Matsuyama finished the 72-hole event at an unprecedented 35-under par.
This achievement officially broke the previous PGA Tour record of 34-under par, which was set by Cameron Smith at the same Kapalua Plantation Course in 2022. Matsuyama’s winning score was comprised of rounds of 65, 65, 62, and a final-round 65, demonstrating a sustained level of excellence over four days that had never been seen before. The Kapalua course, known for its wide fairways and massive elevation changes, is a par-73 layout, which allows for lower scores to par than most other Tour stops, but Matsuyama’s performance cemented it as the greatest scoring feat in relation to par in Tour history.
The Ultimate Grind: Lowest 72-Hole Total Score (Absolute)
The 72-hole total score record is a measure of sustained brilliance, requiring a player to maintain a blistering pace for four consecutive days. This record is currently shared by three modern legends of the game.
The Shared Record: 253 Strokes
The record for the lowest absolute 72-hole total is 253, which is 31-under par on a par-71 course. This monumental achievement is currently shared by three players, showcasing the competitive depth and low-scoring nature of the modern PGA Tour.
- Justin Thomas: Thomas was the first to set this record at the 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii. His rounds were 59-64-65-65, demonstrating a relentless, aggressive style of play. Thomas's 59 in the first round was a crucial part of setting this all-time mark.
- Ludvig Aberg: The young Swedish sensation matched the record at the 2023 RSM Classic. Aberg's remarkable performance in only his first professional year solidified his status as one of golf's brightest future stars. His 253 total score was a key moment in his rapid ascent.
- Scottie Scheffler: The world's No. 1 golfer joined the exclusive club by matching the 253-stroke total at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Scheffler’s dominant wire-to-wire victory proved that this record is achievable on different courses and under varying conditions, further validating the mark as a true test of scoring efficiency.
The fact that this record has been matched three times in a relatively short period (2017, 2023, 2024) suggests that the 253-stroke barrier is the current limit of human performance over four rounds, though it may be poised to fall again soon.
The Mid-Tournament Milestones: 36-Hole and 54-Hole Records
Topical authority demands a look at the records for the halfway and three-quarter marks of a tournament. These scores illustrate the fastest starts and most dominant mid-tournament leads in PGA Tour history.
Lowest 54-Hole Score (Tournament Total)
The lowest 54-hole score in an official PGA Tour event is 188 strokes. This record was set by Steve Stricker at the 2010 John Deere Classic. Stricker’s rounds of 60-66-62 demonstrated an incredible pace, although he did not go on to win the tournament. This record has been matched by several players since, including Ludvig Aberg (who shot 186 over three *consecutive* rounds, though not rounds 1-3 of a single tournament) and Keegan Bradley (who came close at the 2023 Travelers Championship).
The lowest 54-hole score *in relation to par* is -27, a record shared by multiple players, including Patrick Reed at the 2014 Humana Challenge and Nick Dunlap at the 2024 American Express, showing how low a player can go when a course is yielding to birdies.
Lowest 36-Hole Score (Tournament Total)
The record for the lowest 36-hole total (Rounds 1 and 2) belongs to Justin Thomas, who set the mark at the 2017 Sony Open. Thomas’s opening rounds of 59 and 64 gave him an astonishing total of 123 strokes. This blistering start, which included the second-ever 59 in tournament history, set the tone for his record-breaking 72-hole finish.
The ability to post such a low score over the first two days is critical for building an insurmountable lead and is a key metric for measuring a player’s ability to "go low" early in a major championship or regular Tour event.
The Evolution of Scoring: Why Records Keep Falling
The fact that multiple PGA Tour scoring records have been set or matched within the last decade is not a coincidence. Several factors contribute to the constant lowering of the scoring ceiling:
- Equipment Technology: Modern golf balls and clubheads (drivers, irons, wedges) are engineered for maximum distance, forgiveness, and spin control, allowing players to hit the ball farther and more accurately than ever before.
- Player Athleticism: Today's professional golfers are elite athletes. Fitness regimens focused on speed, strength, and flexibility have increased swing speeds and, consequently, ball speed and distance, turning long par-4s into short irons and par-5s into easy eagle opportunities.
- Course Conditions: While major championship venues are often protected by penal rough and firm greens, many regular PGA Tour stops feature immaculate, soft greens and perfectly manicured fairways that allow for aggressive play and maximum scoring potential.
- Data and Analytics: The use of advanced analytics (like Strokes Gained) allows players and caddies to make optimal strategic decisions, choosing the best lines off the tee and the most advantageous targets into the green, maximizing their chances for birdies and minimizing bogeys.
The lowest score in PGA Tour history is not a static number; it is a dynamic target that continually moves lower. From Jim Furyk’s lone 58 to Hideki Matsuyama’s new 35-under par masterpiece, these records represent the peak of what is possible in the game of professional golf. As the Tour continues to evolve, the next generation of golfing superstars will undoubtedly be aiming to etch their names into the record books by pushing the limits even further.
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