John Catlin, a former European tour winner, has made Asian Tour history with his 59 in Macau. -AP
John Catlin has holed a 20-foot eagle putt to complete an 11-under 59 in the International Series Macau, becoming the first player in Asian Tour history with a sub-60 round.
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Catlin, a 33-year-old Californian with seven worldwide victories, became the fourth player this year to break 60 following Joaquin Niemann at LIV Golf Mayakoba, and Cristobal Del Solar and Aldrich Potgieter on consecutive days in the Astara Golf Championship in Colombia on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Del Solar shot 57, matching the lowest score on tours recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking.
Catlin played bogey-free at Macau Golf and Country Club, where soft conditions allowed players to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairway. He finished birdie-eagle to take a two-shot lead over Jason Kokrak going into the final round.
Catlin said all his passwords end with 59, though he never imagined himself posting what long has been considered golf's magic number.
"It's pretty crazy. It hasn't totally sunk in yet," he said.
Catlin is a three-time winner on the European tour whose dip in form sent him to Asian Tour qualifying school, where his career began. Catlin, who played college golf at New Mexico, has four Asian Tour titles to his name.
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