Kim’s historic 59 at 3M Open shifts PGA Tour standings and playoff dynamics
The second-round 12-under score at TPC Twin Cities marks the 16th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history and moves the Australian golfer into a commanding three-shot lead.
Michael Kim etched his name into the PGA Tour record books on Friday, shooting a 12-under 59 during the second round of the 2026 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The performance marks the 16th time a player has broken 60 in the tour’s history and stands as the first sub-60 round of the 2026 season.
Kim entered the tournament positioned on the playoff bubble, having missed the cut in his previous three starts. His round began with two pars before he surged through the middle of the front nine with five consecutive birdies from the third to the seventh holes. He added another birdie on the ninth to reach the turn in 29.
While Kim made only two birdies in the first five holes of the back nine, he finished strongly with four consecutive birdies from the 15th to the 18th holes. He secured the historic score by holing a 24-foot putt on the 18th, a moment that provided a significant emotional lift after a period of inconsistent form.
The round was driven by exceptional statistical performance, particularly in approach play and putting. Kim gained more than 3.7 shots on the field with his irons and nearly 6.6 strokes with his putter, rolling in more than 145 feet of putts. This efficiency allowed him to take a three-shot lead heading into the third round, with the afternoon wave yet to complete their rounds.
Kim’s achievement places him in rare company, following Jake Knapp’s 59 at the Cognizant Classic one year prior. While courses such as Greenbrier, TPC Quad Cities, and TPC River Highlands have hosted multiple sub-60 rounds, Kim is the first to break 60 at TPC Twin Cities. A victory in this event would move him from 65th to 35th in the FedEx Cup standings, significantly altering his path to the playoffs.
