Si Woo Kim's Near-Miss 59: Adrenaline Costs Him History at Byron Nelson
Si Woo Kim's Historic Near-Miss at Byron Nelson
Si Woo Kim fired a 60 in the second round of the Byron Nelson backed by CJ Cup at TPC Craig Ranch, leaving himself with a five-shot lead — but the bigger story is how close he came to golf immortality.
A Birdie Machine Through 17 Holes
Playing alongside Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka at a course near his home, Kim went on a birdie spree that had the field buzzing. He collected six birdies on the front nine and added five more on the back, reaching 17-under through 17 holes with only 20 putts. His iron play was relentless, consistently leaving himself inside 8 feet while his playing partners were scrambling from 15-20 feet.
The 18th Hole: Adrenaline Takes Over
Standing on the 18th tee needing only a par for a 59 — a score only 14 players have ever recorded on the PGA Tour — Kim found the fairway. But from 200 yards, his 6-iron sailed 15 yards over the green. "I think it was too much pumping," he said of his heart rate. His chip spun back short, and an 18-foot par putt slid right. The scorecard read 60.
Still the Leader by a Country Mile
Despite the heartbreak, Kim's 60 puts him five shots clear of the field heading into Saturday. "Everything was perfect," he said, "other than the last hole."
With just 20 putts and iron approaches consistently inside 8 feet, Kim's ball-striking and putting data were elite across 17 holes — making the 18th collapse a rare case study in how adrenaline can override even the most dialed-in performance.