Trevor Ng
In professional golf, a round of 59 or fewer is considered a significant achievement. While no golfer has officially broken 50, there have been several impressive attempts and near misses. Rhein Gibson holds the record for the lowest officially recorded round of golf, scoring 55 in 2012. In women's golf, the lowest rounds are 58, recorded by Trish Johnson, Jane Connachan, and Dale Reid on the Ladies European Tour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lowest officially recorded round of golf | 55 by Rhein Gibson (12 birdies, two eagles, on a par 71) |
| Date of the lowest recorded round of golf | May 12, 2012 |
| Location of the lowest recorded round of golf | River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma |
| Lowest round in men's major championships | 62 by Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele (twice), Shane Lowry |
| Lowest round in women's major championships | 61 by Leona Maguire, Lee Jeong-eun, and Kim Hyo-joo |
| Lowest round on the LPGA | 59 by Annika Sorenstam in 2001 |
| Lowest round on the Ladies European Tour | 58 by Trish Johnson (1990), Jane Connachan (1991), and Dale Reid (1991) |
| Lowest round on a par-70 layout | 57 by Cristobal Del Sol in 2024 |
| Golfers who have broken 60 | Al Geiberger (1977), Chip Beck (1991), David Duval (1999), Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Hayden Springer, Jake Knapp (2025), Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Cristobal Del Sol |
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What You'll Learn
Lowest rounds of golf
In professional golf, a round of 59 or less is considered a significant achievement. The lowest officially recorded round of golf is 55, achieved by Rhein Gibson on May 12, 2012, at the River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. Gibson's round consisted of 12 birdies and two eagles on a par-71 course, and this score is recognised by the Guinness World Records. However, there have been three other rounds of 55 documented, although these are often discounted due to the length of the course or other factors.
On August 27, 2020, Alexander Hughes joined this exclusive club, shooting a round of 55 at the South Lakes Golf Course in Oklahoma, within 100 miles of Gibson's record-breaking round. More recently, Bryson DeChambeau shot a 58 at the LIV Golf Greenbrier on August 6, 2023, and Ryo Ishikawa became the first golfer on a major tour to shoot 58 at The Crowns in 2010. Jim Furyk, Stephan Jager, Alejandro del Rey, and Kim Seong-hyeon have also shot impressive rounds of 58.
In men's major championships, the lowest rounds are 62, achieved by Branden Grace at the 2017 Open Championship, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele at the 2023 U.S. Open, and Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry at the 2024 PGA Championship. Schauffele's round of 62 at the 2024 PGA Championship made him the first golfer to record two rounds of 62 in a major championship.
In women's golf, the lowest rounds in major championships are 61, jointly held by Leona Maguire, Lee Jeong-eun, and Kim Hyo-joo at the Evian Championship. There have been three rounds of 58 recorded on the Ladies European Tour, achieved by Trish Johnson in 1990, Jane Connachan in 1991, and Dale Reid in 1991. These rounds were played on a par-65 public golf course, and the lowest round on a course with a par of 70 or more is 61.
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Women's records
Women's golf has faced numerous obstacles, including snobbery, prejudice, and sexism, but many women have broken barriers in this sport over the years. Here is a look at some of the remarkable women who have achieved notable feats and broken records in golf:
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
Mary, Queen of Scots, is believed to have been the first woman to play golf. She was reportedly seen playing golf in the fields near Seton Castle, close to Edinburgh, following the murder of her estranged husband, Lord Darnley, in December 1567.
Florence Boit (c.1868-1916)
Florence Boit is credited with introducing golf to the United States. After returning from France in the early 1890s with golf equipment, she sparked the interest of her uncle and his friends, leading to the creation of a 6-hole course at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. This club later became a founding member of the USGA.
Patty Berg (1918-2006)
Patty Berg had a remarkable career, winning 29 titles, including the 1938 U.S. Women's Amateur. She turned professional in 1940 and also served as a lieutenant in the Marines during World War II. Berg was a founding member of the LPGA and served as its first president. She amassed 60 Tour wins, including 15 Majors, and remained a member of Wilson Sporting Goods' advisory staff for 66 years.
Betty Jameson (1919-2009)
Betty Jameson was a two-time winner of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. She turned pro in 1945 and was also a founding member of the LPGA.
Juli Inkster (1960-)
Juli Inkster is a talented Californian golfer who won three consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur Championship titles from 1980 to 1982. She turned professional in 1983 and has since accumulated 31 wins, including seven Majors. Inkster has represented the United States in nine Solheim Cup teams, losing only one singles match. In 1999, she achieved the record for "Most Strokes Under Par, 72 Holes" at the U.S. Women's Open, with 16 strokes under par.
Dame Laura Davies (1963-)
Laura Davies, an English golfer, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2014. She has won 84 titles, including four Majors, and holds the record for Solheim Cup appearances with 12. In recognition of her inspiration to girls taking up golf, she was honoured as a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II.
JoAnne Carner (1939-)
JoAnne Carner is the only female golfer to have won the U.S. Girls, Women's Amateur, and Women's Open championships. She turned pro at the age of 30 and won the Burdines Invitational at the Country Club of Miami as an amateur. This record stood until 2012 when 15-year-old Lydia Ko won the CN Canadian Women's Open.
Kathy Whitworth (1939-)
Kathy Whitworth is the LPGA's leading tournament winner, with an impressive 88 titles to her name, although only six of them are Majors.
Judy Bell (1936-)
Judy Bell is known for her administrative contributions to golf. She appeared in two Curtis Cups and set a single-round record with a score of 67 in the 1964 U.S. Women's Open, which stood for 14 years. Bell worked to promote golf to youth, minorities, and the disabled. In 1996, she became the first woman president of the USGA.
Women's Major Championships:
In women's major championships, the lowest round recorded is 61, achieved by three golfers: Leona Maguire, Lee Jeong-eun, and Kim Hyo-joo. Chun In-gee holds the record for the lowest score in relation to par, scoring 21-under-par at the 2016 Evian Championship. Additionally, there have been three rounds of 58 recorded on the Ladies European Tour by Trish Johnson (1990), Jane Connachan (1991), and Dale Reid (1991). These rounds were played on a par-65 public golf course.
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Men's records
In men's major golf championships, the lowest rounds are 62. This was first recorded by South African golfer Branden Grace in the third round of the 2017 Open Championship. In the first round of the 2023 U.S. Open, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele also scored 62. Schauffele repeated this feat in the 2024 PGA Championship, alongside Shane Lowry.
The lowest officially recorded round is 55 by Rhein Gibson in 2012. Gibson's round included 12 birdies and two eagles on a par-71 course. This score is recognised by the Guinness World Records. However, three other rounds of 55 have been documented, but these are often discounted due to the nature of the round or the length of the course.
In 2024, Cristobal Del Sol became the first person to shoot a 13-under 57 in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. This was achieved on a par-70 layout, making it the ninth sub-60 round on the Korn Ferry Tour. In 2010, Bobby Wyatt also achieved a round of 57 in the Alabama Boys Junior Championship.
In 2016, Jim Furyk became the first and only golfer to shoot a 58 and a 59 on the PGA Tour. He is also the only golfer to break 60 twice. Since then, four other golfers have matched Furyk's 58: Bryson DeChambeau, Trish Johnson, Jane Connachan, and Dale Reid. DeChambeau achieved this feat in a 2023 LIV Golf event, while Johnson, Connachan, and Reid all achieved this in 1990 and 1991 on the Ladies European Tour.
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Rhein Gibson's record
Rhein Gibson is an Australian professional golfer born in Bendigo, Victoria, and raised in Lismore, New South Wales. Gibson attended Oklahoma Christian University, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American. He made the cut at the 2014 Open Championship, finishing in 72nd place. In December 2014, he finished fourth in the Web.com Tour qualifying tournament, earning a spot on the 2015 Web.com Tour.
On May 12, 2012, Gibson achieved a significant feat in the world of golf. He recorded the lowest round of golf ever, shooting a remarkable 55 at the River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. This score included two eagles, 12 birdies, and four pars on the 6,698-yard, par-71 course. Gibson's achievement was recognised by the Guinness World Records, solidifying his place in golfing history.
Gibson's record-breaking round began with a strong start on the front nine, where he carded a 10-under 26. He started with a par, followed by two eagles and six birdies. On the back nine, he continued his stellar performance, carding six birdies and three pars for a 6-under 29. It was a dream round for Gibson, who later reflected that he was "trying not to think about it, just play one hole at a time."
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Bryson DeChambeau's YouTube series
Bryson DeChambeau is a professional golfer with 1.95 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. His popular YouTube series, "Break 50", has featured well-known guests, including Tom Brady and Donald Trump. DeChambeau shared his interest in bringing the series to Quail Hollow Club in South Charlotte, expressing that it would be an "honor". The series has provided him with a new perspective, as he hears fans yell "Break 50" while he's under intense pressure during competitions.
DeChambeau's YouTube channel has benefited him at the Masters. In 2025, he finished with back-to-back rounds in the 60s (69-68) for the first time in nine years. The previous year, he started the Masters with a strong performance, shooting 65 to take the lead after 18 holes. However, he struggled for the rest of the week, finishing tied for sixth place.
DeChambeau's YouTube endeavours extend beyond "Break 50". He also has a "Course Record" series, which he finds mentally stimulating. According to DeChambeau, being on camera pushes him to execute his shots perfectly, helping him focus his brain to the maximum extent.
DeChambeau's YouTube success exemplifies how golfers can leverage social media to connect with fans and gain a new perspective on their game. His channel provides an inside look at his golf journey, from the challenges of bunker shots to the satisfaction of back-to-back birdies. Through his channel, DeChambeau offers fans a unique perspective on the game, sharing his strategies, and showcasing his skills.
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Frequently asked questions
The lowest officially recorded round of golf is 55 by Rhein Gibson in 2012.
In professional competition, a round of 59 or less is regarded as a significant achievement.
The lowest round in a women's major golf championship is 61, recorded by Leona Maguire, Lee Jeong-eun, and Kim Hyo-joo.
The lowest round in a men's major golf championship is 62, recorded by Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler, Shane Lowry, and Xander Schauffele.
