Hayden Springer joins elite group of PGA Tour players with remarkable 59 at John Deere Classic - just months after securing his tour card

Hayden Springer earned his place in PGA Tour folklore on Thursday after shooting a remarkable 59 at the John Deere Classic. 

The 27-year-old ended his opening round at TPC Deere Run with a four-shot lead atop the leaderboard after a remarkable 12-under-par 59.

Springer, ranked No 236 in the world, only earned his PGA Tour card back in December. Seven months on, he shot only the 14th sub-60 round in tour history.

He shot six birdies and an eagle on his front nine to reach the turn in just 27 shots. 

Then, after a string of pars, Springer closed with two more birdies - and one more eagle - in the final four holes.

It meant he finished his opening round with two eagles, eight birdies, eight pars and not a single bogey. That left the American four clear of Englishman Harry Hall.

Nashville native Springer turned professional back in 2019 and has yet to win on the PGA Tour. He has made a little over half a million dollars in prize money since joining the paid ranks. 

The 27-year-old secured a top-10 finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week but that broke a run of six consecutive missed cuts.

Springer recently suffered the tragedy of losing his daughter Sage, who passed away last November. She was just three. 

Sage was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a severe disorder resulting from an extra chromosome. She wasn't expected to go home from the hospital but instead lived for three years.

Sage died just weeks before Springer entered PGA Tour Q-School, where he earned his first PGA Tour Card.