What do you think was the greatest round on the PGA tour?

I would nominate Al Geiberger's 59 at the Colonial in 1977. This incredible round was achieved using Persimmon woods, old school blades, a 70 compression ball in 105 deg of heat and the course measured over 7000 yards.

Imagine what he might have shot on that day with todays equipment and balls

1997 Final Round of the Masters by Tiger

I can only go on what I've seen and I'm a bit too young to remember Geiberger's 59 (or Chip Beck's). Too young to remember Johnny Miller's 63 at Oakmont as well, which is arguably a better achievement.

What I do remember though is David Duval's 59 at the Bob Hope. Granted it wasn't a major but it was the final round and the pins are cut in tighter positions. I believe Geiberger's 59 started with a 40 foot putt for birdie (Duval's 11 birdies and an eagle measured a combined 52 feet). Geiberger even holed out from the fairway for eagle once.

I can recall sitting at home watching the best player in the world at that time absolutely destroying the golf course. He didn't even hit every green but I believe he had a putt for eagle or birdie on 17 holes.

I've seen better spectacles on the golf course (Tiger v O'Meara at the '99 Matchplay, Faldo v Norman at the '96 Masters etc) and it probably won't get everyone's vote but that round from Duval will always stick in my memory.

The best round I've seen in person was Greg Norman's closing 64 at Sandwich to win the Open Championship. I saw every shot of that round and he literally mis-hit one shot all day, other than pulling a putt of about 20 inches on #17.

His playing partner Berhard Langer apparently said it was the best round of golf he'd ever seen too - and he's seen a few more than I have.

Other notables are Miller's 63 at Oakmont, Price's 63 at (the old) Augusta, and Norman's 64 round Royal Troon to tie for the Open in '89. The first 6 holes of that round were unbelievable to watch up-close.

Great idea for a thread! With respect for the other ideas, my personal pick would be Miller's 63 at Oakmont. That course is sooooo tough, and he just took the US Open away from the field. Also with persimmon, blades, and balata!!!

Mat, I just don't remember enough about Norman's round, I have always been working during the Open, and have not gotten to see much of it. A real shame...

Kevin

I will second the Geiberger round at Colonial. I have played there a few times and that course is tough. The greens during that time of summer are like really smooth concrete. That being said, Miller's 63 will probably be a consensus pick if you were to ask some of the game's greats. Oakmont is scary and if your approach shot doesn't end up where you want it to, you are in for a long day.

I managed to get to Wentworth for that World Matchplay final between Woods and O'Meara. It was indeed something to behold, as was the Lyle/Faldo final a decade earlier.

I also saw that Duval 59 on TV too. Probably the best display of iron play since that round of Norman's at Sandwich. I remember nearly every shot being absolutely nailed - and the eagle at 18, knowing you need one to break 60, was a bit special.

1986 Masters Jack shoots a final round 65, and everyone else falls apart.

adam scott's 61 dubai in wasn't too shabby. although the conditions weren't the hardest, he did sink some long putts and hit the ball magnificently

Duval's 59.

Johnny Millers 63 at Oakmont and incredible ball striking round


But I do have a question what 70 compression golf balls?

I would have to say Johnny Millers 63 at Oakmont. I had just started getting interested in golf, he immediately became my favorite player.

However, there is one round that I think gets overlooked due to the format. It was David Toms match against Chirs DiMarco in the World Golf Championships, I think 3 or 4 years ago. Toms just smoked him something like 10 and 9 (36 holes) but I can't remember seeing a better display of
iron play ever by a player. He was just locked in on every flag. If it had been stroke play he would have had to been in the low 60's or pushing 59.

DD's 59 was incredible, given the reasons cited above (sticking iron shots within 5 feet of every pin, the CLUTCH putt on 18, tight pin positions etc).

Another consideration would be DL III's round at the Players a few years back, everyone was shooting high numbers in the wind and rain on Sunday, DL III shot something around 64 and I think it was either Tiger or Freddie that called it the best round they had ever seen someone play.

For me it's a hard decision.

If you go by pure emotion it's Jack's 86 Masters, if you go by course setup and conditions you have to say Miller's 63 at Oakmont.

And let's all be honest, a 63 in the final round of a US Open, at Oakmont no less (which produced an over par winner last time), is truly something to behold.

On most other courses that would of been a 59 or better.

Since I've been into golf it has to be DD's 59. Talk about throwing darts. As much as I hate to say it as I'm not really a fan, Johnny's 63 at one of the toughest tracks in tournament golf with the old technology is amazing.

Probably the same number. A 59 comes down to making everything you're looking at.

i have to go with this one too.. It was an amazing display of power and accuracy..he virtually had makeable birdie putts on every hole..
Norman at his best was something to behold..

Davis Love..64 at the Players a few years ago was one of the best rounds..

why do folks think Persimmons and the old blades are so tough to use to score well? The courses were set up to support the technology..They really weren't that bad...the sweetspot is the sweetspot and pros hit that more often than not..they were shooting these scores before persimmon and blades became the norm..

For me it would be one of the following three:

1. DLII shooting 64 in the final round of the players in horrible playing conditions

2. DD shooting 59 at the Hope.

3. Miller shooting 63 in the Open at Oakmont.

I did not see Miller shoot the 63 at Oakmont, however with Oakmont being a tough course without a US Open set up that makes it all the more amazing. I would however give the nod to DLII shooting the 64 at the Players. The course is a lot tighter and demands more shot making than at the Hope or Oakmont. Then add in the horrible conditions on top of that. They guy was seriously in a different world than the rest of the field and made it look easy. There are so many to choose from but these would be my top three. Then again I guess you could pick any of Tiger's four rounds at the 2000 US Open at PB. Putting up a low round is great but how does it relate to the rest of the field that day and what they averaged. Shooting 12 under in a US Open when second place is +1, is something that will probably never be done again! This would be my pick for best four days of scoring by any player at any tournament.

Ask all the pros...it was DLIII at the Players. Avg. score was atrocious.

I agree with you about Geiberger. Miller's 63 at Oakmont was incredible too, and Nicklaus-Watson firing their 65's and 66's in the British Opens.

In general I believe all pre 1990's low rounds are more impressive than the more modern era. Persimmon woods were more challenging to hit solid/straight. Also, greens today roll much better.

Of the 3 59's shot, Geiberger's is by far the most impressive. He played the harder of the 3 courses. It would be like shooting a 59 on a 7800 yard course today.

To me the greatest round would be Jack Nicklaus at the 86 Masters.

I too watched Norman's 64 at Royal St. George with Langer, that was a great round of golf and one of the best I've seen. Nicklaus' 86 masters and Woods' 1997 Masters are also memorable because they are final rounds in majors to win the tournament.

Woods' round was impressive for sure, but he didn't need a low round to win. He was ahead by so many to begin with. What's most impressive about that year, is that he won with a 41 on his 1st 9 holes.

Agree, but you can't look at the over par winner recently and compare that to the tournament when Miller shot his 63. The USGA has specifically looked to make the US Open harder since Miller's 63. Oakmont then and now from a US Open standpoint, were barely comparable if at all. Not to take away from that score, because under the circumstances, it was and is an incredible round.

For me it's Miller's 63, DD's 59, DLIII's 64, and Tiger's 63 last year that was a 62.5 haha.

Chip Beck's 59 was a joke - The course was marked at something around 6,800 yards BUT the yardage was BS it was actually about 6,300 yards par 72. Today it would be a par 67ish course. Not a single par 5 was longer than 500 yards and there were only 2 par 4 holes over 400 yards. The club was sold in the late 1990's the and the new owner even acknowledged the yardage was bunk. Remember this was all before lazer yardage was available. The course was flat and very easy, and boring. The course was so lame that a few years ago it was torn up and homes were built on it.

Too young to remember Johnny Miller's 63 at Oakmont as well, which is arguably a better achievement.


How many times do we have to hear about this on TV though...we all know you were one of "the greats" but I'd rather you not talk about it every week...

Tell me Johnny, where do you rank among the top pro's concerning driving accuracy, GIR, Sand saves, etc.

(Hell, he might be up there, but it kills me that he even mentions his own name w/ Jack and Arnie)


BDLz

Where does that put you w/ in regards to the best in the game???

As critical as I am of Miller's commentating style, I've got so say that he was a decent player in his time. Certainly nowhere near Nicklaus, but for a time he was about the best iron player the game's ever seen. In the mid 70s his average iron shot was probably about 4 feet off line and he'd have a couple of gimmes a round. Great recipe for a lot of low scores (as he proved during his hot streaks) if your driving is half decent and you can hole a putt or two.

I'd love to be able to sit down and watch a proper tape of that 63 at Oakmont - I've only ever seen some dodgy NBC highlights from last years' US Open - just to appreciate it properly and see how it compares to more modern stuff.

I still stand by my vote for Norman's 64 at Sandwich though. I saw every shot of that round and it was absolutely ridiculous how well he played that day.

Lol actually pretty high he is widely known as one of the best iron players ever and has 30 tour wins

You can rag Miller if you do not like him but it takes a lot of guts to rag his game

I would have to agree with the above posters who mentioned David Duval's 59. It was the final round which usually means that the course is playing in its toughest conditions regarding tee and pin placement. The fact that it was a final round also adds to the greatness of the round.

Best round Ive ever seen.

just ask Jonny Miller and he'll tell ya... only kidding...

i would say that Duvals 59 was pretty much a flawless round so thats what i'll go with...

Amen... the figure is actually 25, but it includes the US Open and Open Championships. Miller may be a arrogant weiner sometimes, but he was a great player.

I have to say DD's 59.

Reason: That year, Steve Pate had a six shot lead heading into the final round. He shot six under on Sunday. He didn't win the tournament.

Duval didn't just make an eagle on 18 to break 60; he made a 3 to win.

That's unbelievable.

WW

duval's 59...simply ridiculous

Elkington 1995 PGA, 64, coming from 6 back to tie and win the playoff. I believe (and my memory might be gone ) that he hit every green in regulation.

adam scott, final round of quatar masters? 61 aint to shabby

yeah it was good but greatest round ever??? i think not...

and i dont think it counts since it was on the european circuit... jk lol

Don't remember Miller's 63...but c'mon! Final round at the US Open...at Oakmont no less. That is unbelievable!!!

I'll nominate J.M. Olazabal's 61 at the World Series of Golf at Firestone CC on a day when the scoring average was 71+. Backed it up with 3 67's to win by 12.

Duval when he won the Bob Hope!

DL III's 64 at The Players was pretty ridiculous. Couples said it was the best round he had ever seen...but Johnny Miller's must have been something special too (didn't see it live)

He's just so conceited, it kills me. You'd think he'd won at every course he's commentating on. Sure, he's won 30 times, but he doesn't need to remind me of every time he has won.

I said thirty because he had 25 tour wins five wins over seas and one team win

I remember thrill being tickled when he got 31 cause he could one up Johnny

I wonder what the number would be if his putting had not failed him

Gotcha.

From a strictly PGA Tour standpoint, he had more wins than Gary Player (25 v 21).







How do you guys figure? He had a 9 shot lead heading into Sunday, and shot a 69. The 65 he shot the day before was much more impressive. Or the 66 on Friday. From an impact standpoint, that final round was huge. But it wasn't that great of a display of golf imo.

All great rounds

I think JM's 63
Followed by DD's 59



What about the best 67 ever?
Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999 to come from 10 back to win the Open:
Winning score +6.
8 rounds in the 60s all week, 3 on the final day.
Scoring average was about 78
+12 made the cut
The rough was as deep as the fairways were wide, there was rain falling horizontally, 90% of the players were whining about it and Sergio was crying to his mum (in his defence he was only 8 years old at the time).

What a performance!

Final round of the US open, field average is above par and he shoots a 63.
No brainer, Millers 63.

I've just spat coffee all over my keyboard mate.

That tournament will unfortunately always be remembered as 'the one where Van De Velde was a spaz' as opposed to 'the one where Lawrie came from 10 back to win'.

I remember him nailing a 4 iron on the final play off hole to about 10-15 feet to win. If you add the pressure and considering what he'd just seen, that was one of the best overall iron shots I've ever seen in my life (even if it was with a Wilson Fat Shaft!).

Greg Normans 78 in the final roud of the 1996 Masters, not for the golf, but for the way he handled himself afterwards. Truely the best loser golf has ever seen (ment in a good way)

Unfortunately for Greg he had an awful lot more practice at losing than he ever should have.

2005 - David Toms def. Chris DiMarco, 6-and-5

I remember watching that, Best ball striking round I have ever seen on T.V.