Last Updated on February 20, 2017 by Jo
The only sub-60 round in LPGA History … and The Record Still Stands!
By Cath Mudford – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Annika Sorenstam Remembers and reflects on her record setting 59!
15 years later, Annika Sorenstam remembers the round of 59 she produced at the “Standard Register Ping” making LPGA Tour History.
It was on March 16, 2001 that one of the greatest in women’s golf scored a record-breaking round of 59. Pretty outstanding if you ask me! It was round 2 of the tournament being held at Moon Valley in Phoenix, Arizona, and the day was about to get very interesting indeed.
After 15 years, Annika shares her thoughts on one of the best days in her career, and what that experience meant to her.
This is a video well worth watching.
photo credit – LPGA
2001 was certainly eventful for Annika.
This feat although only in the second round of play, made golfing news the world over.
Annika Sorenstam – what a gift to women’s golf!
Thank You!
You can find out more about what Annika has been keeping herself busy with at her website. Read more about her Foundation and her commitment to help young people develop a healthy fulfilling life through the game of golf, good nutrition and community involvement.
What are your thoughts on this awesome day in the history of women’s golf.
Watch the video below – incredible!
Annika Sorenstam played that day at Moon Valley with her sister Charlotta and Meg Mallon.
She started the day on the back nine, and made birdies on holes 1-8, and made par on the 9th. While walking over to the tenth, turned to her caddy Terry McNamara and said, “I think I’m ready for more birdies”.
Annika knew something “magical” was happening, but was trying to keep focused and telling herself and pretending it was nothing special – excuse me – hahaha!
“She put on a putting display, especially on the front side. She hit the right shots. It was the kind of round everyone dreams of playing.”
Meg Mallon
Looking at the scorecard below, it’s an incredible feat.
… Now, that’s how to win a tournament! And she came so close to even doing better. I believe she could have birdied the 18th green that day as well, but psyched herself out on that hole only to regain her fire on the next (remember she played the back nine first, then the front).
FRONT NINE
| Moon Valley Country Club | ||||||||||
| Hole Yards Par |
1 349 4 |
2 169 3 |
3 336 4 |
4 511 5 |
5 136 3 |
6 393 4 |
7 401 4 |
8 476 5 |
9 383 4 |
Out 3154 36 |
| Sorenstam | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 31 |
BACK NINE
| Moon Valley Country Club | |||||||||||
| Hole Yards Par |
10 534 5 |
11 157 3 |
12 394 4 |
13 506 5 |
14 355 4 |
15 177 3 |
16 414 4 |
17 360 4 |
18 408 4 |
Out 3305 36 |
Total 6459 72 |
| Sorenstam | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 59 |
Read more about Annika’s full career achievements.
I wonder who might be able to break the record – time will tell.
What’s Your Take!
… let me know your thoughts
Hi Joanne,
Indisputably Annika Sorenstam is on the short list of all-time greats who played on the LPGA tour. I kind of remember that score of 59 that she had back in 2001.
In reading your review of the events that day I had completely forgotten that Annika’s sister was also on the tour partnered in the same group that day. I do remember Meg Mallon fairly well as she eventually won a U.S. Open major tournament.
That score of 59 was phenomenal seeing it on the scorecard image included in your article. I mean 8 consecutive birdies on the final half of her round, the only par taking place on the 18th hole! Wow, Annika was firing on all cylinders that day!
What do you think about Inbee Park, the South Korean golfer considered the best in the world with all of the majors she has won the past 5 years or so? Inbee has the most laid-back, quiet personality of any truly great athlete that I know. And that sweet, slow silky swing of hers.
I’ve got to tell you often in the past watching guys like Tiger Woods regarding their violent swings off of the tee trying to hit the ball 5 miles, they should take a lesson from Inbee. Sure she seldom hits the ball off of the tee more than 275 yards. But her fairways hit, the ball not landing in the rough, behind a tree or in water makes those pros look inferior by comparison. The important thing is that so often Inbee hits the greens in regulation leaving her with the chance to birdie a lot of holes. Except in his dead prime, this was not always the case with Tiger.
Annika was every bit the same player as Inbee, perhaps even more so. Off the tee the ball landing in the fairway, and at the proper angle leading into the green. A mid-iron or less club swing, the ball landing on the green, (in regulation) and either Annika sinking a birdie or at worst par. These gals have game! Often more so than their, unfortunately more well-known male counterparts!
Jeff
You have a wonderful site!
I was inspired by the video of Annika! What she did that day was history making. It’s about time lady golfers get some proper attention. The fact that she made 8 birdies in a row and 13 for the round had to have been thrilling for her. Nice to see her sister was there with her too.
It’s nice to see a site devoted to women’s golf. Good women’s sites are hard to find! My husband is a sports editor at our local paper and found your site informative and easy to maneuver too.
Her sister Charlotta had a hard time restraining herself when Anikka won. Love it!
Really though, pure excitement and joy. The only way to get that kind of score however, is to be exact with the putter. That’s where tournaments are won or lost, and boy, was she on that day!
A real treat for golfers everywhere.
What a fabulous site. I love it! I’m a golf fanatic and I’ve always been so disappointed at the lack of golf sites for women. I will certainly be following this one regularly 🙂 This post is particularly amazing. There are so many excellent women golfers but few can compare with Annika. She remains my favorite golfer of all time. Thanks for sharing this great video!
Hi Linda – glad you stopped by!
If you watched the video from start to finish, it’s hard to imagine anyone not being amazed by her accomplishment.
Certainly one of the best woman golfers of all time. I put Annika into an “elite” category.
… and thanks for your compliment – and I agree! Not enough quality sites about women’s golf – and a lot of the men’s sites don’t treat ladies golf in the best light for sure.