Malnati's Record-Breaking 61: Nine Birdies Power Dominant Rocket Classic Opening Round

Solid drive down the center, 285 yards leaves a short iron approach.

Pinpoint 7-iron to 8 feet, sets up an easy birdie conversion.

Clean birdie putt—Malnati rolls it in and opens with a birdie.

Par-5 drive splits fairway at 290 yards, leaving a realistic fairway-wood distance.

Aggressive 3-wood leaves just 50 yards to the pin.

Crisp wedge approach to 10 feet, birdie putt incoming.

Converts the 10-footer for a 4-shot birdie on the par-5.

Monster 340-yard drive on a 430-yard par-4 leaves just a wedge distance.

90-yard wedge chips in for eagle—a textbook risk-reward execution with SG +2.2.

Controlled drive leaves 240 yards on this par-5.

Fairway metal to 12 feet puts eagle back in play.

Confident 12-footer for eagle—another dominant par-5 finish, SG +1.62.

Blazing 350-yard drive leaves just 80 yards—the perfect setup.

80-yard wedge shot chips in for eagle—another SG +2.2 masterpiece.

Another thunderous 345-yard drive leaves 85 yards to chase back-to-back eagles.

Wedge chips in again for consecutive eagles—Malnati is on fire, SG +2.2.

Par-3 tee shot finds rough, leaves 20 feet—the first crack in Malnati's armor.

Chip from rough leaves 8 feet—tricky recovery.

8-footer slides by—leaves 2 feet for bogey.

Taps in for bogey—the only blemish on an otherwise immaculate card, SG -0.95.

Par-5 drive recovers with a solid 310-yarder, 230 to the green.

Fairway wood to 10 feet puts eagle back in play.

10-footer for eagle—immediate redemption after the par-3 bogey, SG +1.62.

Par-4 tee shot comes up short at 250, leaves 180 yards and trouble.

Long iron out of rough reaches 20 yards short—recovery mode.

Pitch from 20 leaves 12 feet—par is in serious jeopardy.

12-footer slides past—leaves 2 feet for bogey.

Taps in the gimme for bogey—second stumble on the day, SG -0.8.